How can we handle this domestic violence case?
I have been approached by a woman, who is not a tenant, to say that her boyfriend who lives with her is beating her up. She is scared to do anything because she has nowhere else to live and he will keep their child if she tries to run away. She is not on the records of the tenancy anywhere – it is in the boyfriend's sole name, so how do I help?

She clearly needs more than just housing advice – she should talk to the Citizens Advice Bureau or to a solicitor about protecting herself and her child. She also needs to know where the nearest refuge is. The landlord could assure her that if she does leave, the boyfriend's tenancy will be ended (using ground 2A, schedule 2of the Housing Act 1985 if he is a secure tenant, or ground 14A schedule 2 of the1988 act if he is an assured tenant). She and her child could then be rehoused.

Catherine Hand

The local authority housing section should have a policy that takes into consideration section 17 of the Crime & Disorder Act in relation to vulnerable tenants. The police usually have a domestic violence unit, and crime reduction strategies often highlight domestic violence as a priority.

If the immediate safety of the woman is in doubt, referral to support group Women's Aid could secure a placement for her and her child at a refuge.

Phillip Dinham

Rent arrears court case is risking my safety
I have to represent my landlord in court, as we do not use solicitors. Normally this is OK, but I am conducting a long-running case against a tenant with rent arrears who has threatened me several times outside the courtroom in the communal area where all parties have to sit. I also think this person may have had me followed and knows where I live.

Each incident or evidence of harassment should be carefully logged, and your local police station should have a "witness intimidation" officer who can take action based on this evidence. Although this is a civil matter, the local Victim Support service will have a witness scheme designed to support witnesses at the crown and magistrates courts – the coordinator of that scheme locally might be able to advise or assist.

On a more practical and immediate level, the court usher or clerk should take an interest in the safety of witnesses at their court, and should offer separate waiting arrangements and methods of leaving to parties involved in such disputes.

Phillip Dinham

Keeping a noisy kids problem in proportion
On an estate I manage, a lot of the children cause low-level nuisance, such as playing ball games, throwing water bombs and generally being noisy. The parents say there is nowhere else for them to play, so they won't stop them, but the other residents complain. We have had tenant's meetings but this doesn't seem to help. I don't really think serving notices will help because although the children are an annoyance, they are not harming anyone.

You are quite right about the notice. What point is there in serving one when there seems no likelihood of following it through? Think about the informal resolution of the conflict involved but make sure you know all the facts. Have you heard all views? What other agencies have been involved?

I am wary about tenant meetings reflecting a general view in these circumstances. Tackling nuisance and antisocial behaviour should be a tolerant process. Sometimes the children can be part of the solution. Involve them in discussions with the tenants so they can both hear what impact their behaviour has on other people and express their frustrations. If necessary, use a mediation service to facilitate these discussions.

Some people use informal estate agreements, which identify what is and what is not acceptable behaviour. Although these agreements have no legal standing, they are useful, especially if you have been able to engage young people in them . There is a fine line between the "I was young once" response and doing nothing, but it is always worth reminding people they are only kids.

If the behaviour does not improve and the levels and persistence of the nuisance increase, you may need to get tougher with one or two of the children. You might consider the use of acceptable behaviour contracts. Again, they have no place in law but are a reasonable and proportionate method of tackling the nuisance.

Tim Winter

Right-to-buy problems
What can we do when residents exercise the right to buy a property during a phased redevelopment program? If they are successful, we then have to buy them out, probably on their terms, or end the project. It does not appear to be possible to prevent someone doing this, even if they are taking advantage of the circumstances.

This is a thorny legal issue. If tenants have a contractual right to buy under their tenancy conditions then to withdraw this right it would need to be revoked through statute. I strongly suggest you get legal advice.

Steven Walker

Finding the right balance
How can we create a balance between a fair allocations policy, where the person in greatest need gets the next available property, with the need to let some properties sensitively to avoid creating further management problems on estates? The classic case is when the next person on the list is a young mother, but the property is situated next to an elderly person?

A fair and sensitive allocations policy should not only give adequate priority to housing the most vulnerable in society but should ensure that housing is allocated in a constructive way that recognises, balances and benefits the needs of the individual applicant with those of existing tenant(s) and the community. This calls for creative and flexible policies and effective engagement with existing tenants. An older person's need for quiet enjoyment should be weighed against the urgency of housing a young mother as well as any cross-generational benefits that could accrue.

A successful allocations policy should distinguish genuine sensitivity from prejudice which, when masked as sensitivity, could cause more harm to the allocations process than good.

Stephen Boyo