Anti-Social Behaviour

Noise is often the biggest culprit when it comes to anti-social behaviour. It's important to remember that no home is completely soundproof, so some noise from your neighbours is inevitable.

We recommend starting with a friendly chat with your neighbour; they might not even realise they're being too loud.

If the noise continues, or if it happens day and night and you don't feel comfortable approaching your neighbour, please reach out to us using the ASB Reporting Form on your online account.

Here's what we need to know:

• When the noise occurred
• How long it lasted.
• The type of noise.
• How loud it was.
• How the noise affects you.

We have several ways to help:

• Providing you with tools to record the noise.
• Arranging mediation with your neighbour. Mediation helps neighbours find solutions together with a trained mediator.
• Issuing verbal and written warnings
• Taking legal action if necessary

Noise is often the most common cause of anti-social behaviour. Remember, no home is completely soundproof, so hearing some noise from your neighbours is normal.

We suggest having a friendly chat with your neighbour first; they might not realise they're being disruptive.

If the noise persists, happens frequently, or you don't feel safe approaching your neighbour, please fill out our ASB reporting form and let us know:

• When the noise occurred
• How long it lasted.
• The type of noise
• How loud it was
• How the noise affects you

We can help in several ways:

• Providing you with tools to record the noise.
• Arranging mediation with your neighbour. Mediation helps neighbours talk through solutions with a trained mediator.
• Issuing verbal and written warnings
• Taking legal action if necessary

If you have concerns about the welfare of an adult or child in the household, please contact the social services Safeguarding Team and/or the Police.

"General living" includes everyday sounds like walking around, doors opening and closing, talking, babies crying, and vacuuming.

You might want to have a friendly chat with your neighbour—they may not realise you can hear them.

If the noise continues to disturb you, feel free to reach out to your locality coordinator via your online account, or using our live chat function.

Please provide us with the following details:

• How often the noise occurs, including dates and times.
• What type of noise you are hearing
• How the noise affects you

Ball games are a lot of fun for those playing, but they can sometimes disturb others and cause friction in otherwise peaceful localities.

While green spaces might seem perfect for ball games, some are close to customers' homes and parked cars, which can lead to complaints.

Even quiet residential roads and car parks are used by vehicles. If a driver needs to swerve to avoid a ball or a child, it could result in a serious or even fatal accident.

Open spaces are for everyone to enjoy. Let’s respect each other's right to a peaceful and safe environment. Here are a few tips to keep things friendly:

• Try to play outside your own house, not someone else’s.
• Politely ask before retrieving a ball—don’t trespass.
• Be mindful of your safety and the safety of other road users.
• Parents, please keep an eye on where your children are playing and ensure they’re not disturbing residents.
• Communicate with your neighbours—be ready to compromise and agree on a time and place for games.
• Expect, within reason, the joyful noise of children playing after school, on weekends, and in the evening.
• "No ball games" signs are a request, not a bylaw and as such are not enforceable.

If ball games are played deliberately and persistently, causing nuisance, annoyance, or property damage, this can be considered anti-social behaviour, which we take seriously.

If this happens, please contact us using the ASB reporting form on your account.

This type of behaviour includes:

• Unwanted sexual comments, advances, or touching.
• Indecent exposure
• Drunken, rowdy behaviour
• Damaging or soiling communal areas

We understand that you might feel scared to confront the person causing the problem. Never put yourself in danger.

You should report the incident to Aspire in the first instance and in cases of criminal behaviour, also to the Police. We can work together and agree on the next steps with you and the Police.

Once you've reported the matter to us, it's important that you help us track the issue. This might include completing diary sheets to keep a record of when things are happening.

You can report an incident using our ASB reporting form on your online account.

Please note: Whilst we will try to help in all cases of ASB, some behaviours that you may find offensive, such as funny looks or staring, may not always be actionable as ASB.

We define fly-tipping as:

• The unlawful dumping of liquid or solid waste on land or in water
• Mismanagement or misuse of waste facilities
• The deposit of bulky items such as old furniture (e.g., bed frames and sofas). To see if your estate cleaning contract covers the removal of bulky items, please contact your property manager or check the cleaning information in your block.

If the item is on land owned by the local authority, it can be reported to them for removal.

To help us remove bulky items, please complete our Contact form, or email us, including a photo, if possible, when you notice waste left on our land. Once we receive your report, we will arrange to have the items removed within four weeks.

If you witness fly tipping, try to provide evidence of the person/vehicle responsible if it is safe to do so.

Fly-tipping on privately owned land is the responsibility of the private landowner and not Aspire Housing. Fly tipping is a criminal offence and should be reported to the local authority Environmental Protection team if not on land owned by Aspire.

Verbal abuse is a serious matter. We understand that you may feel scared to speak to the person who is causing the problem. Never put yourself in danger.

This needs to be reported to Aspire in the first instance. In some cases, we may ask for you to also report it to the police so we can work together and agree the next steps with you.

It is important that once you have reported the matter to us you are able to help us, this may include completing diary sheets to keep a track of when things are happening.

You can report an incident on our ASB reporting form on your online account.

Graffiti is an offence of criminal damage and can be reported to the Police; however they will not remove it.

Is the graffiti personally targeted towards you or your family? 

• If yes, please see the above 'verbal Abuse' section for guidance.
• If no, please complete our Contact form on your online account and attach a photo if possible and we will arrange to get this removed. 

If the graffiti is abusive or racist, we will arrange to remove within one working day, otherwise this may take up to four weeks.

If the graffiti is not on our land, please contact the local authority who will arrange to get it removed.

Dog owners can be given an on-the-spot fine if they do not clear up after their dog. The amount varies from council to council and can be as much as £80. Try speaking to your neighbour to make them aware of their responsibility. If you have tried speaking to them or do not feel able to, you can make a report.

If the offence took place on our land, please complete our contact form on your online account. Once we receive your report, we will make contact with your neighbour.

If the offence took place in a public area such as a pavement or park, please contact the Local Authority who will make contact with your neighbour and possibly issue a fine if you are able to provide them with sufficient evidence.

Noise is the most common cause of anti-social behaviour.  Please remember that no home is totally soundproof, so you are going to hear some noise from your neighbours.

We would suggest you have a friendly word with your neighbour first as they may not be aware they are disturbing you.

If you still feel you are being disturbed and the situation has not improved, or if the behaviour is persistent during the day or night, and you do not feel safe approaching your neighbour please contact us using the ASB reporting form on your online account and let us know:

• When the noise happened;

• How long does the noise last;

• How loud is the noise;

• How is the noise affecting you.
  
  

There are a number of ways we can help including:

• Providing you with details of how to record noise;

• Arranging mediation with your neighbour. Mediation is an opportunity for neighbours to solve problems by talking through solutions with a trained mediator;

• Issuing verbal and written warnings;

• Taking legal action when it is reasonable for us to do so.
  
  

If you have concerns about the welfare of a pet, you should contact the RSPCA.

If you want to report persistent noise from dog barking, please use our ASB reporting form on your online account.

Some dogs can become aggressive and bite other people or animals.

Under the law any dog, of any breed or type can be considered dangerous if it is not kept under control. The dog doesn’t have to bite anyone; it could just show aggressive behaviour that makes someone feel in fear for their safety.

If you are in fear of your safety, please contact the Police immediately or report the dangerous dog.

Once you have reported it to the Police, please contact us by phone or via our online ASB reporting form on your online account so we can work with the Police and agree the next steps.

If your someone is parking in a manner which obstructs your ability to enter or leave your home or allocated parking space, try speaking to them first, they may not be aware their actions are causing you a problem.

If the problem continues you'll be able to take the following action:

• If it's on a public verge or highway and the vehicle is found to be parked contravening local parking regulations contact your Local Authority who may be able to assist by issuing a Penalty Charge Notice.
• If it's parked in such a manner where it needs to be removed immediately, please contact the Police who will arrange this if deemed necessary. 
• If it is on land owned by us, you can report through your MyAccount,  we will make contact with your neighbour. It may be that your neighbour/their visitors are not aware of the local parking arrangements.
  

If you've noticed a car that you believe to be abandoned, start by speaking to your neighbours to see if they know who owns the car.

If you have made enquiries and no-one knows, make a note of the registration number and make of the car.

If the vehicle is in one of our car parks, please contact us though your MyAccount. Once we've received your report, we'll make contact with the DVLA to see if there is a registered keeper. If there is, we will make contact with them.

If not, we'll make arrangements to get the car removed. This process can take up to 10 weeks.

If the car is on a public road, please contact the local authority.

If you believe the vehicle is stolen, please contact the Police on 101 who will attend and recover the vehicle if it's stolen.

Some people think that this is  harmless fun, however regular anti-social vehicle use can have a wider impact on neighbourhoods than simply nuisance noise and may include:

• Street racing
• Riding un-licenced power vehicles
• Misusing vehicles off road
• Performing stunts and tricks

Drivers and riders risk injuring themselves and other road users, cyclists and pedestrians.  Driving or riding in this way is also a form of intimidation, either to the road user or the community.

If you know the people involved and you feel safe to do so, talk to them - they may not know they are causing a nuisance.

You can report the incident to the police. If you do this, let us know - our online ASB reporting form on your MyAccount - so we can work with them and agree the next steps.