WAVERLEY Borough Council is seeking the public’s views on the introduction of new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by council housing tenants.

The council’s current anti-social behaviour (ASB) policy includes a toolkit of measures including warning letters, home visits, mediation, tenant support, good neighbour agreements, ASB orders and possession proceedings.

However, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives local authorities new provisions and powers to tackle so-called “neighbours from hell”.

Waverley is seeking feedback from both council tenants and service stakeholders, including those victimised by tenants, on which of these new powers to adopt.

A council spokesman said: “Tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of their home and the responsibility to not cause a nuisance or annoyance to their neighbours.

“The vast majority of tenants follow these rules and live in a happy community. Regrettably some tenants and/or their families behave in an antisocial way.”

Waverley owns more than 4,800 council homes, including more than 700 in Haslemere.

It received 39 reports of ASB in 2015/16 and would like to adopt three new measures to help cut this number:–

• Civil injunction - Proposed to be used to replace ASB Injunctions to ensure tenants keep to the tenancy conditions. An injunction can either make a person do something or forbid them to do something, for example ASB involving noise, dogs, bullying, drugs or graffiti. Breaching the injunction may result in an unlimited fine or up to two years imprisonment and/or eviction.

• Community Protection Notice – Proposed to be used to tackle overgrown hazardous gardens, rubbish and graffiti where all other assistance has failed. Failure to comply with a notice is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine up to £2,500.

• Absolute grounds for possession – To be used for tenants who have been found guilty in another court of ASB. Proposed to be used in extremely serious cases where all legal requirements have been met.

Feedback can be given either online at www.surveymon key.co.uk/r/R5MW6ZH, in writing to the Service Improvement Team at Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HR. Tenants can also give have their say in person at the council offices in Godalming, on Wednesday, September 14, between 2pm and 3.30pm

Email [email protected] or call (01483) 523558 to book a space. The consultation period runs until Saturday, October 1.