Landlords sign the pledge

SIGNED up . . . (back , from the left) Jill Darby, First Choice Homes community safety manager, Ann Hunt, Guinness Northern Counties, Mike Beaman, Housing 21, Minaz Sayda, AKSA Housing, David Bazell, Oldham Family Intervention Project, (front, from the left) Shupee Syeda Begum, victims’ champion, Lorraine Kenny, Community Safety Services chairman, Cheryl Dryden-Lock, Places for People

SOCIAL landlords in Oldham have signed a pledge on how to tackle anti-social behaviour.

All registered social housing organisations have agreed to a minimum standards pledge on dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour, including hate crime, and the level of service victims and witnesses should expect.

The first of its kind in Oldham, it has been developed through joint working between Community Safety Services and partners.

Lorraine Kenny, anti-social behaviour team leader at Oldham Community Safety Services, said: “Social housing is affordable quality accommodation and we need to make it clear that obtaining such accommodation should be seen as a privilege and not a right.

“Social housing tenants have a responsibility to their landlord and to the communities in which they live.

“While most residents are law-abiding, responsible members of society, there are some who choose to engage in anti-social behaviour and crime, to the detriment of their neighbours and the wider community.

“This pledge confirms the standard of service anti-social behaviour victims and witnesses should expect from their landlords, while sending a clear message to offenders that anti-social behaviour and crime will not be tolerated and that action will be taken against them.”

l Anyone wishing to report anti-social behaviour can do so by calling:

First Choice Homes — 0161-770 6699 then choose option 4

Villages Housing — 0161- 633 4060

Regenda — 0844-7360066

Places For People — 0800- 4320002

Guinness Northern Counties — 0845-6059000

Great Places — 0845- 8501966

Housing21 — 0345-6044447

Contour Homes — 0345- 6021120