Housing Associations in Brighton have joined forces with the police and council to ban tenants from swearing in public.

The Neighbourhood Agreement, launched on Wednesday, sets out what is acceptable behaviour on council and social housing estates in the Hollingdean area of the city.

Tenants living in any of the area’s 700 social housing properties could face eviction if they persistently flout the rules, which cover dropping rubbish, driving inconsiderately, “taking care and attention to others’ safety” and using foul language.

The compact will form part of tenancy agreements for all new residents. The bodies that have signed up are Brighton Housing Trust, Downland Housing Association, Sanctuary Housing Association, CDHA, Southern Housing Group, Moat Housing Group, Orbit Housing Group and Diggers Co-op.

Jill Mitchell, chair of Brighton & Hove council’s environment committee, said the agreement had been drawn up in consultation with residents.

She said: “They are the ones who live here and they are in the best position to say what improvements they would like to see.”

Tim Winter, national organiser for the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group, said: “This is a development of estate agreements that offer a way for people to reclaim their communities.

“As for the swearing element: it’s not banning swearing in your own house, where you set your own standards, but banning abusive behaviour and the use of language aggressively [in public]. We all understand the difference between when you hit your thumb with a hammer and you use an expletive and young people genuinely intimidating older people.”

Source

Housing Today