New powers have been given to landlords in order to quicken the eviction process on anti-social tenants.
These changes will now make it speed up the process to secure a possession order. At present, this takes an average of seven months.
A tenant’s previous convictions for serious anti-social behaviour will be able to be used by private and social landlords to initiate proceedings.
Brandon Lewis, housing minister, says: “No one deserves to feel intimidated or unsafe in their own community, yet lengthy court proceedings have left nightmare tenants free to cause misery for their neighbours for years.
“But from today, new powers mean landlords can take swifter action to evict any tenant convicted of persistent or serous anti-social behaviour, bringing faster relief to victims and witnesses.
“It will mean law-abiding social tenants will be able to live in peace, while anyone found guilty of serious anti-social behaviour cannot benefit from the valuable support that social housing can offer.”
The changes have been made in amendments to the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
1 http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/news_features/New-fast-track-evictions-for-bad-tenants