Landlords have been handed new powers to speed up the eviction of antisocial tenants.
The changes are designed to make it easier to secure a possession order – a process that currently takes an average of seven months.
Private and social landlords will now be able to use a person’s previous convictions for serious antisocial behaviour to trigger proceedings.
Housing minister Brandon Lewis said: ‘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 serious 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 antisocial behaviour cannot benefit from the valuable support that social housing can offer.’
