Your tenancy agreement has a section devoted to “Respect For Others” which clearly spells out that you must act in a reasonable manner and ensure that your behaviour, and that of anyone living in or visiting your home does not cause your neighbours or other people:

• Danger
• Nuisance
• Discrimination
• Harassment

Examples of actions which may cause you to break this condition include: -

1. Noise Nuisance

Excessive noise from stereos, parties, DIY, household machines and family arguments can disturb, irritate and cause stress to neighbours especially if it happens at night.

To minimise potential problems you should:

- Keep amplified music at a reasonable level.
- Use headphones if you want to turn up the volume.
- Locate TV or hi-fi speakers away from adjoining walls and raised from floor level.
- Advise neighbours in advance of any party and try to keep noise to a minimum.
- Ask guests not to prolong farewells or slam car doors.
- Keep DIY activities to times of the day least likely to cause disturbance.
- Apologise in advance for anticipated disturbance.

2. Pets

Linstone generally has no objection to you keeping pets. However pets should not cause any nuisance to neighbours nor should they present a health hazard.

Animals must not be allowed to foul in the common areas or gardens. If your dog constantly barks when left alone you must arrange for it to be taken elsewhere when you are out. All animals must be strictly supervised and controlled when allowed out of your home.

Linstone also insists that you comply with any legislation laid down in relation to specific breeds of dogs and exotic animals.

You must apply in writing for consent to keep any pet. Linstone will not withhold consent unreasonably. Permission will, however, be restricted to a maximum of 2 dogs per household.

Where consent is to keep pigeons within your garden, Linstone will survey neighbouring residents and if more than one objection is received permission will be refused.

3. Using Your Home To Run A Business

Running a business from home can cause a nuisance to neighbours in terms of excessive vehicular or pedestrian traffic and/or increased noise especially during unsocial hours.

You must apply to Linstone for written consent before attempting to set up a business from your home address.

4. Carrying Out Illegal Activities From Your Home

You must not allow your home to be used for any illegal purpose. Linstone will take a very serious view of any unlawful activity especially drug offences and is likely to proceed with legal action to recover your tenancy.

5. Harassment

Linstone Housing Association is totally opposed to all forms of discrimination. The Scottish Secure Tenancy places an obligation on you to ensure that no member of your household or visitor to your home carries out any action which may cause offence to a neighbour or staff member.

Unacceptable areas of discrimination include race, colour, age, gender, religion, disability and sexual preference.

Your Tenancy Agreement allows the Association to take legal action for recovery of your tenancy should you break this condition.

It is unrealistic to expect that everyone will abide strictly by the responsibilities detailed above and therefore Linstone has a detailed policy on how we will deal with cases of neighbour nuisance/anti-social behaviour.

Complaints can be made either verbally to your Housing Officer, in writing, by the observations of a staff member or through a third party such as the Police. All reports will be acknowledged in writing and placed within one of the following categories:

A - Extreme Behaviour e.g. drug dealing, unprovoked assault. These should be actioned immediately.

B - Serious Anti-Social Behaviour e.g. threatening/abusive behaviour, frequent serious disturbance. Investigations must begin within 2 working days.

C - Nuisance Cases e.g. excessive noise, unacceptable behaviour of visitors or children. Investigations must begin within 5 working days.

D - Other Breaches of Tenancy e.g. stair cleaning, garden upkeep. These will be acknowledged within 10 working days advising the likely timescale for investigation.

If you make a complaint you may be asked whether you have spoken directly to the offending tenant. Often in minor cases we find that problems are best dealt with amicably without the involvement of the Landlords.

It is common at this stage to call upon the services of Renfrewshire Council's Mediation Team who help neighbours involved in disputes to sort out their differences and reach an agreement on how to move forward.

The mediation team can be contacted on 01505 331 472.

However where this approach has failed or if felt to be inappropriate, Linstone staff will commence a series of interviews with everyone involved including you, other neighbours, any witnesses and the person who is the subject of the complaints. The purpose of these meetings is to help the Association to get an accurate picture of what has happened and to collect any substantiating evidence.

Every effort will be made to ensure that any information provided will be treated in confidence. The identity of the person making a complaint will not be revealed although it should be noted that such protection may no longer be possible if the case proceeds to court.

Once the interview process is complete, you will be advised what action is to be taken.

Options include: -

• No further action.
• No immediate action but continued monitoring.
• Warning interview and continued monitoring.
• Warning letter and continued monitoring.
• Legal action.

This process is also followed where the complaint is against an owner-occupier but it should be noted that the actions available to Linstone are somewhat restricted.

Where complaints are of a very serious nature and Linstone has been unable to resolve them through the issuing of a formal warning then we are likely to involve Renfrewshire Councils Anti Social Investigations Team (ASIST) who will investigate and try to resolve.  However where problems continue ASIST will pursue appropriate legal options including Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOS) and decree for eviction (in partnership with Linstone).

The Association will also seek to work alongside other appropriate agencies such as Police, Environmental Health (who have powers to deal with noise nuisance and health hazards) and Social Services where appropriate.

Other resources available locally to help with anti social complaints include the Councils Anti Social Behaviour Helpline 0800 169 1283. This is a confidential service providing practical advice, reassurance and assistance with anti social problems.  It is available between 9.00am and 10.00pm 7 days per week.

Neighbourhood Warden Service

This service covers 15 areas in Renfrewshire.  The Linstone properties which are included are those in Ryefield, Johnstone Castle, Sandyflats, Corseford, all Johnstone, and in the Paisley area, our properties in Glen Street, Brown Street, and Sutherland Street are covered.

Renfrewshire Council Environmental Services Department

If you have persistent problems with neighbour noise, the Council's Environmental Services Department can investigate your complaint.  Where necessary they can install noise monitoring equipment or they may ask you to keep a diary to record the dates and times when excessive noise occurs.  If it is found to be necssary to take action, the Council will serve a notice on the person causing the noise nuisance telling them to restrict or stop this practice. 

If you wish to pursue this please contact your Housing Officer on 01505 382383 or contact Environmental Services directly on 0141 840 3106 or by email e-prof.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Additional information on noise nuisance is available in the Scottish Executives leaflet
'Sound Advice on Noise'.

Environmental Services also deal with problems of litter and illegal dumping.

Strathclyde Police

The police also have power to take action against a person making excessive noise (breach of the peace).  In addition they can confiscate noise making equipment such as a stereo for up to 28 days if a person fails to stop the noise when requested.

Renfrewshire's Anti Social Behaviour Strategy

Under the terms of the Anti Social Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004, every local authority together with their local Police Chief Constable was obliged to produce a strategy for dealing with anti social behaviour in their area.  The document sets out:

•The extent and types of anti social behaviour in Renfrewshire
•The range and availability of services to deal with anti social behaviour
•New services which require to be developed to fill any gaps
•Arrangements for consulting the community and interested parties affected by Anti Social Behaviour
•How Renfrewshire Council and the police will co-ordinate their roles and exchange information about Anti Social Behaviour

The full strategy is available for download via the link below.

Renfrewshire Antisocial Behaviour Strategy 2005-2008

If you have any queries in relation to the above or wish to lodge a complaint please contact your Housing Officer on 01505 382383.

The following links will take you to sites which contain useful information on the topic of anti social behaviour.

Strathclyde Police
Renfrewshire Council
Scottish Executive
Anti Social Behaviour Scotland