Re: “How well-behaved are you?” (Second opinion, 10 September, page 23) – I’d have thought the word “social” in the name “registered social landlord” would have given a clue to RSLs’ attitude to tackling antisocial behaviour.

RSLs’ raison d’etre is to provide homes for people; those people come from a multitude of backgrounds and will include some who behave in an antisocial manner.

To tackle that, RSLs have recently been given a wide range of legal remedies.

Peter Dixon, chairman of the Housing Corporation, recently said tackling antisocial behaviour is a key part of the Communities Plan. That suggests another clue to RSLs’ approach: the aim is to address the behaviour. Many regard possession action as failure, and most as a last resort.

Sweeping generalisations, stereotyping, assertion with no evidence offered – the article is not worth a point-by-point rebuttal.

I know no RSL that subscribes to the zero-tolerance policy described and there are clear contradictions in the last paragraph. I contacted some RSLs that are tackling antisocial behaviour effectively. Here are their responses.

Tim Winter, Social Landlords, Crime and Nuisance Group

Source

Housing Today