FCH Housing and Care have obtained their first injunction for anti-social behaviour under the new provisions of the Housing Act 1996.

A new tenant had engaged in a course of nuisance and annoyance by allowing parties at her property with excessive noise and loud music. Excessive visitors gathered at her flat, sometimes when she was not there, and cigarette butts had been thrown out of the window.

The main resident affected by this behaviour was heavily pregnant and shortly after the birth of her baby the tenant, together with her visitors, attended the neighbour’s property and tried to kick down the door threatening physical violence if she complained about the noise again.

The tenant did not attend Court and in her absence an injunction order was granted, together with a Power of Arrest if any further threats of violence were made by her or her visitors. A possession order was also granted to take effect 28 days later. The Judge in the case was sympathetic to the problems experienced, especially given that excessive noise was caused in the early hours of the morning of the hearing, which demonstrated a complete disregard for the proceedings that had been brought.

FCH hope that this will send a clear message to its residents that behaviour of this nature cannot, and will not, be tolerated and that it intends to fully utilise the powers available against tenants who do not comply with their tenancy conditions.