A Practical Guide to Nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour in Social Housing

The control of nuisance and anti-social behaviour has become a focus of government interest over the last few decades. English law has taken large steps forward compared with many other jurisdictions. With good planning and preparation, many types of behaviour can now be controlled or prevented. The most recent statutory help comes from the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”).

This guide provides legal practitioners, social landlords, the police, tenants and their advisors with a practical guide to the current law governing the control of anti-social behaviour in England and Wales using Injunctions made under the 2014 Act (“ASBIs”). In a comprehensive, yet accessible format this guide aims to help the reader navigate some of the common challenges associated with the control of nuisance in publicly and privately-owned housing and elsewhere by the use of ‘ASBIs’.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Iain Wightwick is a barrister at Unity Street Chambers in Bristol. He is a specialist property lawyer, with particular interest in landlord and tenant issues and in general work, especially social housing with a focus on neighbour nuisance and related anti-social behaviour matters (‘neighbours from hell’), housing disrepair, homelessness, general social and private sector housing law. As part of his caseload, he is often instructed to pursue claims for ASBIs and for ASB-related possession and is occasionally briefed on behalf of defendants. Many of the disputes include consideration of issues relating to disabilities and to the Equality Act. He has thirty years’ experience of acting for social landlords and tenants and a reputation for creative, cost-controlling approaches to litigation and to alternative dispute resolution.