Friday 11 Nov 2011 @ 10:20
Homeless Link
Homeless Link
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Homeless Link responds to DCLG on anti-social behaviour evictions
Homeless Link has called on the Department of Communities and Local Government to rethink its proposals to make it easier to evict tenants for anti-social behaviour.
In a consultation that closed yesterday, Government proposed new powers that will enable landlords to evict a tenant who has received an anti-social behaviour order without further court proceedings. Homeless Link is concerned that such a power may impact disproportionately on vulnerably housed and excluded individuals and push them into homelessness.
Anti-social behaviour is a serious problem and we acknowledge the impact on victims – it is important that there are strong sanctions in place. However, in many cases anti-social behaviour is linked to poor living conditions and social inequality. Statistics relating to the recent riots in London indicated that a disproportionate number of those convicted of offences came from some of the most deprived communities in the country.
Making people homeless as a result of anti-social behaviour is, in the view of Homeless Link, likely to result in more problems for both the individual concerned and their communities.
The DCLG consultation proposes:
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A new mandatory power of possession for tenants whose anti-social behaviour has been considered by a court: Under this proposal social landlords will be able to seek possession of a property if the tenant has breached an ASB sanction without having to go to court a second time.
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That the existing ground for possession for all anti-social behaviour is broadened: Currently only activity perpetrated in an individual's neighbourhood can be used as grounds for possession. The DCLG propose that this is broadened to anywhere in the UK.
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That a whole family can be removed from their home due to the acts of one member.
Responding to these proposals from the DCLG, we have called on them to:
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build in a requirement that supportive interventions have been fully explored and used prior to possession being sought
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recognise the serious impact on the individual and community of an individual losing their home and take action to avoid this happening
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reconsider these proposals in relation to the Human Rights test of everyone being equal before the law.
