“I feel more relaxed, I’m sleeping better, and I’ve been able to catch up with my neighbours and sit outside again,” says Mandy, an Alliance Homes customer, after anti‑social behaviour (ASB) at her home was brought to an end.
Residents in a neighbourhood in Weston-super-Mare had been experiencing repeated and escalating problems, including targeted verbal and physical aggression and threats, excessive dog fouling and misuse of communal spaces. One neighbour described the experience as “living on tenterhooks”.
They say the atmosphere has changed since the Community Safety team at Alliance Homes acted and the individual causing the issues was removed.
Ashleigh Norville, Community Safety Officer, responded to the reports with a range of support and enforcement measures to address the customer’s disruptive behaviour. When this did not work, and the behaviour continued to escalate, the team applied to North Somerset County Court to regain possession of the property. The court granted the request nine months later, and the customer was evicted.
Ashleigh acknowledges how upsetting long ASB cases can be, saying: “We don’t want any of our customers to experience this. We always try to resolve issues early with a range of support measures, but when problems continue, it’s our responsibility to act appropriately and proportionally - in this case, resulting in eviction.
“It’s wonderful to hear Mandy and her neighbours now feel happier and safe.”
Ashleigh explains that achieving outcomes like this relies on working closely with our customers, Avon and Somerset Police and the County Court to resolve situations effectively.
She adds that the team always works hard to support customers involved in ASB to address the causes of their behaviour, including signposting to relevant services or providing support directly where possible. As a social landlord, the decision to seek possession of a home is never taken lightly, but the safety and wellbeing of customers and the wider community is our priority.
Mandy said the Community Safety team kept her updated throughout the process, explaining each stage clearly and setting out clear, realistic expectations.
This, she said, made her and her neighbours feel reassured and supported. With the case now closed, residents are enjoying spending time together and using their outdoor communal space.
If you’re experiencing anti-social behaviour or have any other community concerns, please report it by emailing act@alliancehomes.org.uk or calling 03000 120 120.
You can also learn more about the support we offer by visiting our Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour webpages.