Drive to tackle anti-social behaviour on housing estates gets concerted boost

Respect – ASB Charter for Housing was launched on 22 June by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group (SLCNG) and the performance improvement service HouseMark. The voluntary Charter created by housing professionals in consultation with residents, commits landlords to providing a high quality service to prevent and deal with anti-social behaviour. The Charter puts an even higher priority on tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in order to protect vulnerable tenants and improve the lives of people resident in social housing.

Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive, said: “This has been an excellent opportunity to work with key partners, housing professionals and tenant’s groups to set out a really outcome focused charter that is actually sector owned. We really hope that housing organisations embrace the new Charter and work with their tenants to shape truly excellent ASB services”

Eamon Lynch, Policy Advisor at the SLCNG said: “Developed by expert practitioners, this new Charter embodies best practice from around the country. Landlords signing up to the Charter are making a highly visible and powerful commitment which will provide increased assurance to their tenants.”

Samantha McGrady, Deputy Chief Executive, HouseMark said: "ASB is a top priority for tenants, and HouseMark is pleased to have been involved in developing the Charter, which will help landlords improve their service and performance in this area."

The launch of the Respect – ASB Charter for Housing at the CIH annual housing conference in Harrogate, coincides with the publication of a new report from CIH entitled Working with tenants and communities to tackle ASB: Baseline findings 2011. The new report highlights the vital importance of the partnership between landlords and tenants to tackle the blight of anti-social behaviour to making communities safe and pleasant places to live.

*Ends*

The Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group (SLCNG) is the UK's leading housing based organisation specialising in delivering effective solutions to anti-social behaviour. The SLCNG is a member-led organisation representing over 3 million tenancies throughout the UK.

HouseMark was set up in 1999 and is jointly owned by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the National Housing Federation (NHF), two not-for-profit organisations dedicated to improving housing standards. We are the social housing sector’s leading provider of performance improvement services. We are committed to working for, and with, the sector to improve performance, value for money and efficiency.

The CIH report Working with tenants and communities to tackle ASB: Baseline findings 2011 was launched on 22 June at 11.30 at Housing 2011.

For more information on the Respect Charter go to http://www.cih.org/RespectCharter