Ark Housing Association acknowledges that every individual is entitled to live in peace within their neighbourhood and that to provide a quality housing service we will help to effectively address the problem of Anti-Social Behaviour.
We will:
• Formally acknowledge all reports of Anti-Social Behaviour within 5 working days;
• Seek to investigate all reported instances of Anti-Social Behaviour at office level in a timely manner;
• Provide advice and support;
• Identify and interview all parties concerned;
• Establish inter agency working where appropriate;
• Use legal action when all efforts at conciliation have failed. This may include possession, injunction and/or making an application to the relevant authorities for an Anti Social Behaviour Order,
• Endeavour to take action on behalf of our own tenants who may be the victims of Anti-Social Behaviour;
• Seek to respond to instances of Anti-Social Behaviour on any land owned by Ark Housing, whether the complainant is a tenant, private tenant or owner occupier and
• We will take full account of any anti-social behaviour carried out by any person(s) who has made an application for rehousing, as and when this information is made available.
The statutory definition (Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003) of Anti-Social Behaviour is:
Conduct by any individual which causes or is likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to a person residing, visiting or otherwise engaging in a lawful activity in the locality of the dwelling house
An individual may be deemed to have acted in an anti-social manner if he/she has:
• been convicted of using the dwelling-house or allowing it to be used for illegal or immoral purposes
• been convicted of an arrestable offence committed in, or in the locality of the dwelling house
• directly or indirectly affected the Ark Housing Association Management functions or matters relating to those functions.
Anti-Social Behaviour might include amongst other things:
• Violence or the threat of violence;
• Hate behaviour that targets members of identified groups because of their
• perceived differences (e.g. race, religion, political affiliation, disabilities or
• sexual orientation);
• Noise Nuisance (rowdy parties, loud music/TVs dog barking);
• Arguing and door slamming;
• Environmental quality issues (e.g. litter, dog fouling, graffiti fly tipping,
• nuisance vehicles);
• Offensive drunkenness;
• Using housing accommodation for selling drugs or drug abuse or other
• unlawful purposes:
• Intimidation and Harassment;
The above list includes typical types of behaviour which trigger consideration for action by Ark Housing Association. The list is not exhaustive and the policy statement is not an undertaking to act in every instance. Judgment will be exercised by Housing Association officers when considering and responding to a particular report of Anti-Social Behaviour.
To download Ark Housing Association’s Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, click here.
