Severn Vale Housing Society

Definition of anti-social behaviour

For the purposes of the duties imposed by section 218A of the Housing Act 1996, as introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, ASB (anti-social behaviour) is any conduct to which sections 153A(1) and 153(2) of the 1996 Act apply. These sections apply to:

• ‘conduct which is capable of causing nuisance and annoyance to any person and directly or indirectly relates to or affects the housing management functions of a relevant landlord’; or
• ‘conduct which consists of or involves using or threatening to use housing accommodation owned or managed by a relevant landlord for an unlawful purpose’.

Examples of such behaviour may include:

• Noise nuisance.
• Intimidation and harassment, including racial harassment.
• The fouling of public areas.
• Aggressive and threatening language and behaviour.
• Actual violence against people and property.
• Hate behaviour that targets members of identified groups because of their perceived differences.
• Drug dealing.
• Using the home or area for unlawful purposes.

N.B. This is not an exhaustive list.