action taken against four nuisance neighbours

Community spirit is returning to a County Durham neighbourhood after action was taken against four nuisance tenants.

Housing association believe housing has worked with Durham Constabulary and Durham County Council to tackle antisocial behaviour and criminality in the Howletch area of Peterlee.

Integral to the clampdown were eviction proceedings by believe housing against two men and two women, who were the subject of a catalogue of complaints from residents.

All four tenants were known associates and regularly at each other’s addresses, causing antisocial behaviour involving drugs misuse.

Other complaints included noise, loose dogs, damage to property, intimidating behaviour, and allowing rowdy and intoxicated people to visit their homes and cause misery for neighbours.

Natalie Favell, Safer Neighbourhoods Manager at believe housing, said: “We take all incidents of antisocial behaviour seriously and work with partner agencies to support victims and deal with issues relating to our homes and tenants.

“Eviction will always be the last resort for us, after all offers of support and intervention have failed.

“Despite multiple opportunities to change their ways, all four of these tenants continued to show a blatant disregard for their neighbours and left us with no option but to go to court to take possession of their homes.

“We thank the police, council, and the victims who provided us with statements for their support and patience.

“This enabled us to disrupt the unacceptable behaviour of these four individuals and their visitors and help people feel safe where they live again.”

A former neighbour said life in the area is now “100% better”, adding: “It’s been brilliant since a new tenant moved in, we are getting a community spirit back again.”

Another resident said: “It’s like living in a different place and we are much more relaxed, we felt like we were prisoners in our own home.”

In addition to the antisocial behaviour, one of the tenants also breached her tenancy by refusing to let believe housing complete gas safety and compliance checks inside the property. This put herself and potentially other residents at risk.

Sergeant Alex Gibson, of Peterlee Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Antisocial behaviour brings misery to our communities, so we will always work alongside partners to target those whose selfish actions continuously disrupt residents and cause harm.

“After working with believe housing and Durham County Council in this case, we are glad to see the four tenants removed so peace can be restored to their neighbours.”

Councillor James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “We work very closely with all our partners across County Durham to prevent antisocial behaviour and to tackle it wherever it occurs.

“We appreciate the impact nuisance neighbours can have on quality of life and are supportive of the action taken by believe housing that will lead to less disturbance for local residents.”

To find out more about antisocial behaviour and which agency to report your problem to visit durham.police.uk/Report-It or durham.gov.uk/asb.

To report an issue about a believe housing tenant or property go to believehousing.co.uk.