Tenant bodies could soon be able to demand environmental improvement of their estates, according to plans unveiled by deputy prime minister John Prescott at the Urban Summit.

An Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consultation paper, Living Places – Cleaner, Safer, Greener, proposes giving tenants the right to require landlords to deal with problems such as vandalism, graffiti and fly-tipping. The paper also proposes to broaden council powers to tackle environmental degradation, which would include greater use of fixed penalties and abatement orders.

During a visit to Newham, east London, last week, prime minister Tony Blair said councils and the wider community as a whole should have the power to prevent physical decline escalating out of control.

The consultation paper coincides with government pledges to make tackling antisocial behaviour a priority in this month's Queen's Speech.

Source

Housing Today