City of York Council is bringing in introductory tenancies and a tougher allocations policy in its drive to tackle neighbourhood nuisance.

Changes in the council's policy will also help homeless people by extending choice and targeting those with particular needs such as people with physical disabilities.

The council has worked successfully with North Yorkshire Police through its tenancy enforcement team and the government's anti-social behaviour legislation to tackle residents who abuse neighbours.

But now the introductory tenancies, new government rules and an extra council solicitor are also being employed.

Under the new introductory scheme new tenants will have a year to satisfy the council of appropriate behaviour - including consideration of neighbours and prompt rental payments - before permanent, secure tenancies are awarded.

The council is stressing that they do not apply to people transferring from one council home to another - for example older people moving into smaller accommodation to free up family-sized homes.

Councillor Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said, "Most of our new tenants are good neighbours and have nothing to fear from these new tenancy conditions and I must stress that anyone with an existing tenancy transferring to another home is not affected. However, these changes will help us to deal with any new tenants who do not take their responsibilities seriously."

To toughen up on tenants who have already caused serious nuisance or who have been evicted for other reasons a number of other measures are also being introduced - some of which also extend to tenants in housing association properties. The measures include:

a year's ban on anyone evicted from a council or housing association home because of rent arrears, being offered a new home. They will also have to pay off the arrears and any legal costs before being considered again a minimum two year ban - subject to review after two years - on anyone evicted for neighbour nuisance or harassment being offered a council home a minimum ban of three years where a tenant has been evicted due to a conviction for drug dealing from the property or for neighbour nuisance where drug dealing was involved a ban on transfers for any tenant who is subject to an anti-social behaviour order, or has someone living with them with an ASBO, for the period of the ASBO a two year ban on anyone who is evicted for failing to occupy their tenancy, including illegally sub-letting the property, without a good reason

A restriction on transfers to ensure only those with a clear rent account of at least one month can be considered is being extended to current tenants of housing associations. Young people below age 18 will get a support package as part of their tenancy agreement to help them appreciate the responsibilities, including those to neighbours, their tenancies bring and give them the support they need in their first tenancy. Lesley Healey, the council's group manager for access and support, said, "As required by the law all cases that are affected by the rules that bar people from rehousing will be subject to review by senior officers and mitigating circumstances will be taken into account. However, these are tough new rules and we will be making sure prospective and current tenants will be made aware of them." Councillor Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said, "The vast majority of our tenants are responsible, law-abiding people. "But it only takes one or two nuisance neighbours to affect a whole area and we want to be clear that we will not tolerate or reward behaviour that affects other people's lives in this way. "The message is 'You have responsibilities as well as rights. If you abuse your tenancy or your neighbours, you must take the consequences of your actions'." Meanwhile, people who have higher community care needs will be given additional priority by setting targets for when the council will try to find a more suitable home for them, giving customers - for example those in need of the physical help of a carer - a better chance of being able to move closer to their carer more quickly to prevent them having to enter a care home. People who are accepted as homeless will now have a full area choice for the first four months after their acceptance date, increasing their chances of getting a home where they want to live in the city. However, the pressure of trying to find homes for the increasing number of homeless households and to reduce the number of families living in bed and breakfast, means the choice will be restricted to either the west or the east of the city after four months and offers are being reduced to one only instead of two. Councillor Potter said, "I want to see the council as a landlord of choice for local people, working with local communities to tackle these important issues which directly affect people's quality if life on a daily basis." END