Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) has recently taken enforcement action to evict two tenants and secured two Civil Injunctions with a Power of Arrest for a further two residents who were causing persistent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).
An introductory tenant has recently been evicted from their property on Rodwell Walk for causing extensive ASB in the neighbourhood. The reports received detailed extensive noise nuisance, frequent visitors to the property causing a disturbance during the night, drug related activity and numerous smashed windows at the property. As a result of these complaints, the introductory tenancy period was extended for a further 6 months to allow BCH to work with the tenant and for them to improve their behaviour. However, as they failed to engage with the support which was put in place, and continued to cause noise nuisance and disturbance to the neighbours, a Notice Pending Possession was served and the Courts ordered possession of the property within 14 days.
A further eviction has taken place on Spencer Court where a secure tenant had continually breached their tenancy agreement by participating in drug related activity and allowing known drug dealers access to the block. BCH worked in partnership with the Police and Blackpool Council Community Safety Team to obtain a Partial Closure Order on the property which prevented anyone but the tenant from residing/visiting there. Whilst there was an improvement in the ASB, once the order had expired the tenants behaviour resumed and continued to cause alarm and distress to the neighbours having no regard for the warning process prior to commencing legal action. BCH worked closely with the residents to provide the Courts with a detailed account of the ASB they were experiencing and as a result a possession order was obtained.
BCH have also been successful in obtaining two ASB Injunctions for non-BCH tenants frequenting Spencer Court who were known to be using the properties for drug related activity. Although these individuals were not BCH tenants, they were having a serious impact by causing persistent nuisance and annoyance in the neighbourhood. Applications were therefore made to the Courts for Civil Injunctions with a power of arrest. The particulars of the injunctions forbid the individuals from; engaging or threatening to engage in conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress to residents on Spencer Court and excluding them from 150m radius of Spencer Court Community Centre. These will remain in place for twelve months.
The ASB Team are committed to tackling ASB in a proactive way and can access a variety of tools and powers to address the issues. However, legal action is always considered as a last resort once all other options have been exhausted.
It is always distressing to reach the point of evicting someone but we have a responsibility to make sure all our tenants can live in their property and neighbourhood without the fear of intimidation and harassment. We have made strenuous efforts to resolve the situation and will continue to provide support to tenants when they experience anti-social behaviour. Thank you to all residents who have worked with us to build evidence in these cases which has helped to ensure the nuisance behaviour no longer persists.John Donnellon, Chief Executive of Blackpool Coastal Housing
If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour, our dedicated ASB Team are here to help and can be contacted on 01253 477900 (select option 3) or by email to asb@bch.co.uk.
Any issues of a criminal nature should be reported to the police in the first instance. If you are concerned about your safety or the safety of someone else, you must contact the police immediately.