Supporting you with a complaint
It’s a good idea to try and sort out any issues yourself if you feel safe to do so. Once Stonewater is involved, it can become a multi-agency issue which can make the process last for a long time while we investigate.
When can we help?
We will always support you with the following types of anti-social behaviour;
- Verbal/racial abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Violence and threats to life
- Noise nuisance – when it meets the threshold for intervention
- Vandalism
- Drug dealing
- Arson
- Fly-tipping/other hazardous material
- Continued general nuisance
- Safeguarding concerns (welfare)
Legal remedies We will only explore the options of legal intervention in extreme circumstances. To find out more about legal action, please read our policy.
When we can't help
Sometimes we can't get involved in complaints between neighbours. To find out more about how you can tackle issues effectively yourself click here.
Good Neighbour Agreements
Good Neighbour Agreements are drawn up between conflicting parties, to commit to start or stop doing a specific set of actions which are causing disruptive behaviour. GNAs are voluntary and are not legally binding, but help everybody concerned to take ownership of solving the problem together at a community level.
Mediation
Mediation is a great tool when used appropriately, but it's not suitable for every case. It can include face to face or 'shuttle' mediation which involves someone going back and forth between the people concerned. Mediation may be formal or informal.
Warning Letters
We take a ‘phone first’ approach, and will only issue warning letters when evidence has been presented. Depending on the nature and severity of the behaviour, the case owner will determine how many warnings are issued. Warning letters will usually follow a verbal warning.
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
An ABC can be used prior to court action and will set out agreements made by the neighbour causing the disruption. These can be done in collaboration with external agencies and may include the disruptive neighbour actively engaging with those agencies.
Community-Level Intervention
A community project may be considered when environmental factors are identified in the cause of ASB. This will include customers working together to create solutions to these contributory factors.
Extension of Starter Tenancy
Where disruption caused by a customer is confirmed, if that customer is on a starter tenancy the case owner may choose to extend this rather than converting it to a full assured tenancy. This should only be done with approval from a manager and after careful consideration and exhaustion of other options.