What is Neighbour Nuisance and ASB?
The definition of ASB which is used in Section 2 of the Antisocial Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 : Which states Antisocial behaviour means –
(a) Conduct that has caused or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person.
(b) Conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises, or
(c) Conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person.
Some examples of behaviour that would be treated as ASB include but are not limited to:
- Intimidation and harassment
- The fouling of public areas, graffiti, fly tipping and nuisance vehicles
- Actual violence against people or property
- Hate behaviour that targets members of identified groups because of their perceived difference e.g. racial harassment.
- Using or threatening to use housing accommodation to manufacture, supply or sell drugs, or for other unlawful purposes.
- Excessive noise nuisance.
Below are examples of issues which may upset or disturb people and which are unlikely to be dealt with as ASB are:
- Babies crying
- Children playing (including balls games- unless they are being played in a communal area and causing a nuisance)
- Cooking smells
- Doors and drawers being shut
- Dishwashers, hoovers, tumble dryers, washing machines and or other household appliances; Dropping of objects/moving of furniture
- General talking
- Heavy footfalls (people walking on floors or upstairs)
- Flushing toilets and running water
- Lights switches being turned on and off
- Loud talking or laughing
- One-off or isolated incidents e.g. a party or an argument or altercation
- People carrying out DIY jobs at reasonable hours of the day
- Families arguing and shouting between themselves (unless you suspect there is domestic abuse taking place in which case this should be reported to the police)
- Sexual noises
- Shift workers leaving home
- Slamming doors
- Toilet flushes
- Where there is no breach in the tenancy ie: people staring or being inconsiderate.
- Noise transference due to poor sound insulation.
This list may, from time to time include other low level nuisance issues.
Please see our Antisocial Behaviour Policy.