As the UK launches its first Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week, Thrive Homes Customer Relations Team Leader Adrian Anstee highlights the importance of working with partners to keep our residents and communities happy and safe.
At Thrive, we are committed to creating quality homes and supporting communities where people enjoy living and feel secure.
We have established ourselves as an important community partner, teaming up with a range of organisations to develop projects which make a far-reaching positive impact on our residents and neighbourhoods.
Such partnership working is also crucial to tackle issues that might negatively affect individuals and the wider community, in order to protect people’s quality of life and wellbeing.
As a professional landlord, we have forged strong links with local authorities and the police so we can work together to take a robust approach to combating anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the areas where we operate.
Extra powers
Thanks to the close relationship and trust we have built up with Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) and Hertfordshire Police, TRDC took the unusual step of giving us delegated powers – normally reserved for local authorities and police – in 2017.
These enable us to serve Community Protection Notices (CPN) – which require specific behaviour to stop and, if necessary, reasonable steps to be taken to ensure it is not repeated in future – to prevent unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative impact on communities.
Working with TRDC, we have successfully employed these powers on various occasions. In one case numerous residents complained about overgrown, rubbish-strewn gardens which had become an eyesore at one of our homes.
We tried to speak to the occupant but, as they would not engage, we issued a Community Protection Warning to get the garden cleared. This was stepped up to a CPN, followed by an unpaid fixed penalty fine but, before the case came to court, the tenant had the garden tidied up.
Our team has carried on working with the resident, uncovering deeper issues such as safeguarding, and involving support agencies so that the person can remain in their home.
Peaceful resolution
Such use of CPNs is just part of our multi-pronged approach to addressing ASB, always with the aim of resolving problems at an early stage.
We are in regular contact with our partners, including monthly meetings of the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Group (ASBAG) – representatives of local housing providers, police and support services – to look at specific cases and flag up issues in the area.
Recognising that ASB can be rooted in more complex contributory factors, Thrive takes a wider view to support customers who may be struggling.
Through our community grants, we provide funding to support the work of organisations such as local charity Herts MIND Network in areas including mental health and domestic abuse. In the case of neighbour disputes, we also offer mediation services through a specialist agency.
Tough action
We work hard to nip ASB in the bud through early intervention but sometimes, despite our best efforts, tenants will not engage and problems persist.
One such case began with a large number of residents, including children, complaining about a tenant allowing dogs to run loose, not clearing up after them, shouting, arguing, being verbally abusive and threatening neighbours.
We visited with TRDC’s Animal Control Warden but a Public Space Protection Order failed to solve the problem and reports began about drug-related activity. So we teamed up with TRDC and the police to conduct an ASB survey among surrounding homes.
As our attempts to sort out the matter with the tenant were unsuccessful and complaints continued, we again worked with our partners to gather statements and other evidence for court proceedings. The case eventually ended with a possession order and the tenant’s eviction.
Occasionally such court action is necessary to protect local residents and prevent criminal activity but it is always a last resort, when all other avenues have been exhausted.
It is only by developing close working relationships and clear communication channels with other organisations that we can build these strong partnerships which are needed to effectively tackle ASB in our communities.
By pooling our knowledge, skills and experience we can take appropriate coordinated action to keep our residents safe and our neighbourhoods thriving.