Abusive tenant who faced legal action hands in keys to her home

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing

An abusive and threatening tenant who faced legal action for her noisy and violent behaviour has agreed to surrender her social home.

Residents of Liverpool Road, Birkdale, had started complaining about the 43-year old woman a year ago for verbal abuse and constant noise from her and visitors to her property.

The woman's decision to hand in her keys comes after concerted legal action by Adactus Housing Association. Adactus have also had to take action against the woman's ex partner after he was seen assaulting her in the street.

Tenancy Enforcement Officer Anna Schickhoff-Brown said:  "The problems began in early 2011 when our tenant was issued with a warning about causing noise nuisance. 

“We then had to take legal action against her after reports that she and her friends had threatened to smash up a neighbour's car, kill her dogs and stab her in the head - and against her partner because of his violence towards her. On one occasion, the neighbours saw the man hit our tenant so hard that her teeth were visible through her cheek."

Despite support from Adactus, the tenant was unwilling to accept help and allowed her violent boyfriend to return to the house, leading to him being arrested on at least two occasions.

Tenancy Enforcement Manager Debbie Parkinson said:  "We were also taking action against the tenant for non-payment of rent. This, plus the willingness of her neighbours to give evidence against her because of the continuing serious nuisance, meant that she faced the threat of eviction and also of being imprisoned.

“It seems this threat was enough and the tenant handed back her keys in order to avoid further action.  This case has been a nightmare for the neighbours to live through but, thanks to their help, we've been able to tackle a very serious anti-social behaviour case."