THE Housing Executive has evicted tenants from one of its properties in Newcastle.
The move is part of the organisation’s get-tough policy with those who engage in persistent anti-social behaviour.
The Executive has not confirmed the location of the property it has repossessed in Newcastle, but the organisation’s most senior official in Down District said the eviction decision wasn’t taken lightly.
Mr. Aidan Brannigan said repossessing property is viewed as a last resort after all other attempts to resolve problems have been unsuccessful.
He said while the Executive does not want to see people losing their homes, it has a duty to the vast majority of residents in its housing areas who are law-abiding and have a right to live in peace.
Mr. Brannigan said in dealing with anti-social behaviour, Executive staff work to resolve problems through early intervention and mediation. He explained this approach is often successful, preventing the need for more serious action to be taken.
“We know that anti-social behaviour can cause misery and anxiety for local residents and we are committed to tackling this issue in our housing areas, often working with others to ensure residents can live safely and peacefully in their homes,” he continued.
“These actions show our commitment to protecting them. We will continue to work with residents to resolve issues of anti-social behaviour, however, we will not hesitate to take eviction action should the circumstances and evidence warrant this.
“We need people to come forward and report incidents as and when they occur. Unless we know about such incidents, we cannot tackle them.”
Mr. Brannigan is also urging people who have experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour issues to report it to the Executive’s Downpatrick office. He said the problems created by anti-social behaviour are not always easy to resolve.
“Individual victims are often fearful of coming forward and this is understandable. However, it’s vital we have the support and evidence provided by local people. Without it, the job becomes even more difficult,” he added.
The Housing Executive says it has made “significant progress” in recent years in identifying and dealing with individuals who have been involved in unacceptable behaviour. The organisation said this work will continue wherever these incidents occur.
Anyone who has experienced problems relating to anti-social behaviour is asked to contact the Housing Executive, telephone 03448 920 900.