The Department for Social Development is seeking the public’s views on new measures to deal with anti-social behaviour in social housing.
A public consultation has been launched which outlines a number of proposals, including the introduction of a new type of social housing tenancy, known as a Short Secure Tenancy, which will be used where the courts are satisfied that a tenant of the Housing Executive or a registered housing association has been involved in anti-social behaviour.
When a tenant is under a Short Secure Tenancy they would have fewer rights. They will not be permitted to transfer or exchange their home or purchase their home under the House Sales Scheme.
It is being proposed that social landlords in Northern Ireland should be able to convert secure tenancies to short secure tenancies where within the previous three years:
• the tenant or a member of their household has been convicted of an offence which involves using the dwelling-house (or allowing it to be used) for immoral or illegal purposes, or of an indictable (i.e. criminal) offence committed in, or in the locality of, the dwelling-house, or
• certain orders of the court such as anti-social behaviour orders (“ASBOs”) or injunctions have been made against the tenant or a member of their household.
Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland said: “The current procedures to tackle anti-social behaviour in social housing are prolonged, expensive and inadequate for the severity of the problem.
“What I am proposing will alleviate these issues and is based on the Scottish model, sometimes referred to as the short secure tenancy or yellow card scheme.
“Under these new proposals, where a social housing tenant commits anti-social behaviour, social landlords would have the power to convert their secure tenancy to a six-month short secure tenancy.
“During this period the landlord will have to offer counselling or other support to the tenant, but if the tenant’s behaviour does not improve the landlord will be able take possession of the property when the six month period ends.”
The consultation document also proposes to make a technical amendment to homelessness legislation.
It will ensure that if an individual is assessed as homeless but commits antisocial behaviour before they are re-housed, they can be deemed ineligible for social housing.
The consultation closes on 24 February 2014 and is available at the DSD website.
Following consultation, legislative change will be required. It is expected this process will begin in late 2014.
Responses to the consultation can be emailed to [email protected] or write to Heloise Brown, Department for Social Development, Housing Division, 1 Cromac Place, Gasworks Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JB.
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