Whitefriars Homes North Limited and Whitefriars Homes South Limited, a registered social landlord in Coventry and the housing association formed on the transfer of Coventry City Council’s stock, have obtained an antisocial behaviour order against a tenant of theirs within county court proceedings. This power has only been available since April 1st 2003 and is probably one of the first orders made in the country. Elisabeth Bradshaw provides a brief account of the case.

Mr Gallagher was a tenant of Whitefriars Homes North Limited and Whitefriars Homes South Limited. He was granted a tenancy of 155 The Barley Lea, Stoke Aldermoor. Whitefriars had received complaints of nuisance, which included holding a female tenant against the wall by her throat, and had also experienced problems with Gallagher attending the local housing office and being abusive and threatening.

Whitefriars originally applied for an injunction pursuant to section 153 of the Housing Act 1996 and an order under common law trespass forbidding him from trespassing on the housing office site. This was originally obtained without notice and then, on the return hearing, a full order was made.