The unspoken problem

I’d like to compliment Croydon Churches Housing Association for the exposure of a problem that is now an epidemic in housing management, although many of us remain silent (“The £50k eviction”, 4 June, page 16).

It’s easy for the Home Office to say social landlords must act, not make excuses, on antisocial behaviour but the fact is procedures and legal constraints work against us.

It is clear that nobody in the Home Office has devoted time and training to the legal system on these practicalities, most importantly for those “gin judges” with their lack of knowledge in handling antisocial behaviour cases.

It seems the government sees management staff as machines rather than human beings who continually face harassment, intimidation and growing frustration.

Surely there must be a common approach and good practice that will result in more positive action?

Our experience, two years ago, in the eviction of a hostel tenant for continual antisocial behaviour was made more difficult by the interference of the regulator, local councillors and court, none of whom understood the problems faced by housing management staff. The cost was £60,000 and the loss of a good staff member.

Local authorities are not resolving antisocial behaviour problems. Tenants are being transferred or nominated, thus shifting responsibility to the recipient RSL.

The time has come for Louise Casey and her Home Office team, plus regulators, councillors and MPs, to take a walk down housing management row and spend three months learning and seeing for themselves whether the procedures and processes work.

They should be given proper training on the difficult process of antisocial behaviour action. They need to understand the threats, abuses and allegations faced by housing management staff, especially those of us who are community-oriented and community-based.