We will protect our tenants from ASB

At Servite Houses we’re continuing to exercise powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, using court proceedings to protect our tenants.

On March 7 our legal team made an application to Edmonton County Court to prevent a Servite tenant from entering his property after he threatened a family living in one of our homes.
 
We originally sought an injunction against the man, whose anti-social behaviour was causing distress to a family living in Servite accommodation, in November. The injunction was granted requiring the man not to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the family. The court thought the matter so serious the injunction had a power of arrest attached to it.

The tenant, who lives in Edmonton, breached the injunction on March 6 when he threatened the complainant with a screwdriver.

Aware that the man could no longer abide by the rules of the injunction, we applied for an exclusion order, requiring him to leave his Servite home.

The matter came before District Judge Silverman on Wednesday (7/3/07) who granted an exclusion order preventing the man from entering his tenancy address in Edmonton and the road it is in. His Honour also gave a suspended 28 day prison sentence for contempt of court.

The man is now in alternative accommodation and will no longer be housed by Servite.

Ken Andrew, Servite’s anti-social behaviour Officer for North London, said: “Fear and distress caused to our tenants is not something we will tolerate. We will take swift and rigorous action in any circumstances like to ensure our tenants safety. “

The defendant will face imprisonment if he breaches the terms of the Injunction Order.

Servite has a proven track record of tackling anti-social behaviour. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mayor of London Ken Livingston have both visited Servite’s Church Manor Estate in South London last year and praised the comprehensive approach to ASB.

We have dedicated ASB teams and our own in-house legal department to ensure cases are dealt with quickly and effectively.

Servite was the first housing association to sign up to the Government’s new Respect for Housing Standard and was also UK housing award finalist for Excellence in Delivering Safer Neighbourhoods.

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Press release issued: March 9 2007