Anti-social behaviour – guidance for council tenants

Anti-social behaviour: guidance for council tenants

This page explains what anti-social behaviour is, what is not classed as anti-social behaviour, and how council tenants can report concerns or get support.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is behaviour by a person that is likely to distress or harass people from another household. If it is not dealt with, it can affect people’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 defines ASB as:

  • conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person
  • conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in connection with their occupation of a home
  • conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person

Examples include playing loud music, being aggressive towards neighbours, or causing criminal damage such as graffiti or vandalism.

What is not anti-social behaviour?

Some behaviour can be annoying or inconvenient but is not classed as ASB. Examples include:

  • children playing
  • one-off noise, such as a children’s party or a New Year’s Eve celebration
  • general disagreements or disputes
  • normal household noise
  • comments on social media

Crime is sometimes mistaken for ASB. Crime is behaviour that breaks the law. You should report crime to the police.

How to report anti-social behaviour

Call 999 in an emergency.

If you are affected by ASB in a Central Bedfordshire Council property, contact us:

Email: neighbourhoodasb@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8046

If the ASB is caused by a private resident or a resident of another social housing provider, report it using the online form on our website. Visit the page on how to report anti-social behaviour:

Find out how to report anti-social behaviour.

When to contact the police

Call 999 in an emergency.

You should report crime to the police. Some crimes that are often mistaken for ASB include:

Cuckooing: when criminals exploit a vulnerable person and take over their home to carry out illegal activity
Cannabis-related offences: cannabis is illegal. Report its use or supply to the police. If the police witness drug use or supply in a council home, we will consider enforcement action.

We work closely with the police and other partners to resolve ASB and address long-term problems.

Your responsibilities as a tenant

You are responsible for the behaviour of anyone living in or visiting your home.

You should:

  • keep the volume of TVs, radios and music at a reasonable level
  • avoid behaviour that may disturb neighbours, such as shouting, slamming doors or holding late-night parties
  • park your vehicle considerately
  • store household waste in the bins provided and avoid fly-tipping

You should not allow:

  • your dog to bark or whine for long periods, or foul in communal areas
  • children or visitors to disturb neighbours, such as playing ball games next to someone else’s home
  • your garden to become overgrown or filled with rubbish

What happens after you report anti-social behaviour

We record all reports on our secure case management system. Only we can access it.

We aim to contact you within one working day.

When we contact you, we may ask detailed questions to understand what has happened and any risks involved. This helps us assess issues such as domestic abuse or hate-related harassment.

During this first conversation, we will agree an action plan. What we do depends on factors such as:

  • the type of behaviour
  • how often it happens
  • who is affected
  • any risks
  • what evidence is available

You may choose to log the issue for reference only, or you might want support to speak with the other party. We can help you with this.

If you want us to take action, we may need evidence such as diary sheets, photos, videos or recordings.

For noise reports, once we receive diary sheets, we may offer noise‑monitoring equipment that we can install in your home.

We will never ask you to collect evidence if it is unsafe. We will not share your identity with the other party unless you give permission, although in some cases they may be able to work it out.

Taking action

Our aim is to help you resolve ASB that affects your home or neighbourhood. We focus on changing behaviour and supporting people to maintain their tenancy.
Some cases are resolved quickly. Others are more complex. Actions we may take include:

  • verbal warnings
  • written warnings
  • mediation
  • restorative practice
  • acceptable behaviour agreements

If legal action is needed, we may seek an injunction or possession proceedings. The police and local authority can also apply for measures such as Closure Orders.

If your case goes to court and you are a victim, you will have a named officer to support you. They will explain the process and stay in contact with you afterwards.

Evictions and notices of seeking possession

Eviction is always a last resort. We only consider it when there is evidence of serious ASB and other options have been tried.

A notice of seeking possession is the first step in recovering a property. It can be issued on:

Discretionary grounds – a judge decides whether we can take possession. We only apply for a hearing if ASB continues after the notice.

Mandatory grounds – under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, landlords can ask the court for possession if a tenant has been convicted of certain ASB offences.

Why a case may be closed

We usually close a case when the issue has been resolved and we agree with you that it can close.

In some situations, we may close a case without agreement if all actions are complete.

We understand you may worry about issues returning. We cannot keep cases open indefinitely, but the record remains on our system. If the problem happens again, contact us and we can reopen the case.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome

We audit cases and request feedback from customers when a case closes.

If you are not satisfied with how your case is being handled, ask to speak with the senior neighbourhood housing officer. They will review the case and check if anything further can be done.

If you are still unhappy, you can make an official complaint.

If you feel your concerns are not being taken seriously by us or another agency, such as the police, you can request an anti-social behaviour case review.