How Anchor manages reports of anti-social behaviour and supports residents

Anti-social behaviour

Anchor believes that all residents are entitled to enjoy their home in peace free from anti-social behaviour.

This page explains what to do if you are experiencing anti-social behaviour from others. It also discusses how Anchor deals with reports of tenancy fraud, hate crime and domestic abuse.

We have worked with resident groups to create this page and the related resident helpsheets below.

Anti-social behaviour

We recognise that anti-social behaviour may occur and that this can seriously affect the quality of a person’s life.

What is anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour refers to actions that cause nuisance, annoyance, or distress to others in a community. These behaviours can negatively impact residents' enjoyment of their homes and their overall wellbeing. Examples of anti-social behaviour include:

Noise and rowdy behaviour: Persistent noise, especially during late hours (evenings or early mornings)
Animals not controlled: Constant barking, dog fouling, or pets causing distress to others
Illegal activity: Using a property for criminal purposes
Intimidation or verbal abuse: Threats, bullying, or any form of verbal harassment
Violence or threatening behaviour: Physical or verbal aggression or threats
Vandalism and damage: Graffiti, property damage, or other forms of vandalism
Criminal behaviour: Involvement in criminal activities
Hate crime or harassment: Incidents of racial, cultural, or other forms of abuse and harassment
Vehicle nuisance: Abandoned vehicles or noisy, disruptive activity involving vehicles
Substance abuse nuisance: Problems caused by drug or alcohol use
Sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour: Sexual harassment or other inappropriate conduct
Improper disposal of waste: Littering or dumping of rubbish
Poor property condition: Property conditions that negatively affect communal areas

Reporting anti-social behaviour to Anchor

Anchor residents can report anti-social behaviour (ASB) in several ways:

Online: Complete our online reporting form here
Location Manager: Residents can also report to their Location Manager in person, over the phone, by email, or by letter
Email: Send an email to [email protected] with "ASB" in the subject line. Your report will be assessed by the Customer Experience Hub and forwarded to the most appropriate member of staff
Phone: Call 0800 731 2020

All reports will be assessed and passed on to the relevant team.

What happens after reporting ASB to Anchor?

We will assess whether what you are reporting qualifies as anti-social behaviour and we may seek support from other specialists (e.g. Community Safety Officers) if needed.

What we don't consider ASB

Anchor does not classify the following as anti-social behaviour:

Normal conversation within a home
Flushing toilets or noise from electrical appliances (e.g. washing machines or radios) during reasonable hours
Occasional dog barking
Minor DIY or one-off parties with advance warning
Minor disagreements with neighbours

How will the case be investigated by Anchor?

Once reported we will:

Gather details from you, including any independent evidence or witness names
Ask for police reports if applicable (crime reference number, etc.)
Possibly request anti-social behaviour or noise diaries to track incidents
Investigate and speak with all parties involved, including witnesses and those causing the behaviour
In some cases, partner agencies such as Safeguarding or Environmental Health may be involved
Where appropriate, we may ask residents to speak to the person causing the behaviour about the issue they are experiencing. Often neighbourly disputes can be easily resolved by talking to the other person and making them aware

Potential outcomes

We may decide on actions such as:

Warning or advice letters
Mediation offers
Acceptable behaviour contracts or good neighbour agreements
Court actions, including injunctions or possession proceedings which could lead to eviction (for serious cases)
Supporting you to resolve the issue by speaking with the person causing the behaviour

Monitoring and case closure

After a resolution, we will check in to ensure that the anti-social behaviour has stopped. If it continues, further actions will be considered. Cases may remain open until a resolution is reached.

ASB case review

You have the right to request an independent review via your local authority (ASB Case Review). More details on the process can be found here: Anti-social behaviour case review - GOV.UK.

Tenancy fraud

Anchor also deals with tenancy fraud, which can include:

Gaining a tenancy through false information
Subletting without consent
Non-occupation of a property

To report tenancy fraud, contact the Location Manager or Anchor directly using the methods above.

Hate crime and domestic abuse

If your ASB report involves hate crime or domestic abuse, Anchor offers additional support. More details on these can be found on the relevant support pages here:

• Anchor's hate crime support
• Anchor's domestic abuse support