Landlords and housing associations are going to be granted more powers to evict unruly tenants who ruin their neighbours’ lives through persistent noise or by being drunk and disorderly, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will confirm later today.

Under new plans perpetrators of anti-social behaviour will face swift and visible justice, increased fines and enhanced drug testing as part of a new crackdown.

ZERO-TOLERANCE

The Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan will establish a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says: “Anti-social behaviour undermines the basic right of people to feel safe in the place they call home.

“The public have rightly had enough – which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished.

“This action plan maps out how we will tackle this issue with the urgency it deserves and stamp out these crimes once and for all – so that wherever you live, you can feel safe in, and proud of your community.”

ONE-STOP

A new reporting tool will also be developed over the next twelve months to act as a digital one-stop shop where people can quickly and easily report incidents of anti-social behaviour when these occur.

Landlords have welcomed the new proposals and Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, says: “Anti-social tenants blight the lives of fellow renters and their neighbours.

“Plans to end ‘no explanation’ repossessions risk making it harder to tackle such behaviour.

“Whilst we will study the detail of the Government’s plans carefully, we welcome its commitment to strengthen the ability of landlords to evict unruly tenants.

“The law must be on the side of the victims of anti-social behaviour and we are glad that the Government agrees.”

LAUGHING

Elsewhere, under the zero-tolerance approach, Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” will also be banned to send a clear message to intimidating gangs, that hang around high streets and children’s parks and litter them with empty canisters.

The drug is now the third most used among 16 to 24-year-olds in England and both the police and public have repeatedly reported links between use of the drug and nuisance or anti-social behaviour.