Council tenants asked for views on scheme to reduce anti-social behaviour

Council tenants are being asked to take part in a consultation exercise aimed at gauging people's views on a proposed scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour and other breaches of tenancy conditions.

Within the last few days, the borough council has sent its 5,650 tenant families questionnaires to gather their thoughts about introductory tenancies.

Introductory tenancies are a way of trying to make sure that new tenants take their responsibilities seriously. If they break their tenancy agreements in the first year, for example by being guilty of anti-social behaviour or not paying their rent, the council can fast track possession proceedings against them before they become secure tenants.

At this stage, introductory tenancies are a proposal but the borough council is keen to hear the views of its tenants who could benefit from the scheme by seeing that their new neighbours behave better. The council has already asked people applying to it for housing what they think, and the response from them has been overwhelmingly in favour.

Tony Mousdale, Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council's Head of Housing (Landlord and Strategy), explained: "If the scheme is adopted, the introductory tenancies would last for 12 months, or in some cases 18 months, and, if tenants behave properly during that time, and we had no other reason to end their tenancy, they would become secure tenants at the end of it.

However, if they do not prove themselves to be good tenants and neighbours, we will be able to take swift action."

He added: "It's really important that tenants give us their views and I would be really grateful if they could spend just a few minutes filling in the questionnaire and returning it to us."
 
Responses received by Monday 13th November will go into a draw with prizes £50, £25, £15 and £10 for the winners.

For more information, please call our housing strategy team on 0151 356 6473.

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Press release issued: October 23 2006