Good Practice In Housing - Outline Example

Good Practice In Housing Anti-Social Behavior Recommendations to the problems faced by Rivermead Housing Association Meeting: report authorized by: Rivermead housing association management Date: 13th March 2013 Business author: Classification: report type: Open information/ Discussion/ decision Business Plan Objective: 1. Coming up with strategies to increase satisfaction for the BME residents. 2. Coming up with strategies that increase the revenue that is sourced from the housing units. 3. Coming up with strategies that can help reduce the number of repairs in the housing units. 4. Coming up with overall strategies aimed at reducing the ASB incidences. 5. Ensuring that all strategies employed take into consideration such factors as the input of the residents or tenants. Risk management: In the event that these strategies fail to be effectively incorporated into the management process, the Rivermead Housing Association risks incurring losses that might arise from poor tenancy in their housing units. The strategies: 1. Ensuring that cases pertaining to ASB are dealt with accordingly. 2. Ensuring that the focus is on all the concerns from the BME community. 3. Creation of special ASB teams to give personalized response to these cases. Summary: The measures to be implemented must be hinged on good practice, regulatory guidance and include advice from the most recent research. Recommendations: Other than the strict implementation of the above strategies, the housing management team should endeavor to undertake these changes. In order to realize quality results, they should forge a partnership with the relevant authorities, as well as the residents. Introduction It is worth noting that the worth of an estate depends on conditions set by the life of the occupants, as well as the owner of the estate. Because of this, most housing managers often strive to ensure that their estates become conducive for healthy and peaceful living. Arguably, Anti-Social Behavior (ASB) significantly impacts negatively on the worth of the estate, and has an indirect impact on the residents. With a view to make sure the acts of Anti-Social Behavior are well managed, there are fundamental strategies that need be employed for the Rivermead Housing Association. However, for the strategies to help in realizing the projected goals there is need for striking partnership deal, which should comprise of the Housing Association, local authorities and, at the focal point, the residents to be involved. Certainly, with this team work, the success of fully bringing the anti-social behavior under control shall be guaranteed. Risk management Like any other entity, Rivermead Housing Association has been associated with the crisis of dwindling revenue. This has been found to arise from the impending rise of ASB cases. Following the increase in the ASB cases, there has been a significant reduction in the tenancy numbers in their housing units. This therefore means, in order to make sure the housing association mainstreams the ways of generating revenue, it deems important for such cases to be address accordingly. This implies that the strategies that should be implemented ought to ensure that the housing association maintains its vitality. Strategies As clearly noted, there is need to reduce cases of low service satisfaction. The housing management team needs to put in place strategies geared towards reducing the current perceptions of ASB harbored by the residents. This can be done through initiating programs that shall ensure all reported cases, pertaining to ASB, are handled satisfactorily. This way, the housing management team must demonstrate strong leadership through maintaining their commitment and accountability in an effort to help prevent and subsequently tackle ASB issues. In this case, it calls for swift and professional response to all reported ASB cases. Moreover, the Housing Association reserves the option of creating special ASB teams that are fully funded. These funds should aid in their training, which ultimately would make them somewhat better in handling, with efficacy, the ASB cases. This team should be tasked with handling all the entire ASB cases that may arise. Additionally, a new practice in housing management, which entails creating a twenty four hour ASB hotline, would be of help in handling the arising cases of ASB that for years have remained unchecked. However, this would end up causing significant additional operational costs. It is worth noting that vandalism in the estates cause expensive repairs. Failure to handle these cases well, and in a timely manner, problems of letting accommodation, would accrue and in the event reduce the total rental income of the association. By and large, the revision of tenancy agreements is an issue of grave concern. This way, the tenancy agreements need be redesigned in such a way as to incorporate clauses that prohibits any form of ASB by the residents. This calls for measures to be put in place that can ensure new tenants become informed of the approaches to ASB. As has been the outlined, Rivermead Housing Association is experiencing numerous cases of Anti-Social Behavior (ASB). With increased number of repairs that are being undertaken, there is need to make sure that prior to embarking on the repairs, the core cause of the damages should be investigated. This would ensure the cases of damages, resulting from vandalism, are dealt with accordingly. In the event whereby the vandalism is a direct source of criminal intentions, the police should be informed. As if not enough, the housing management team should endeavor to provide private security for the residents. When this is coupled with action by the police, much of the objective shall bear fruits. Vandalism is becoming a norm. It is ideal to deal with the vandalism cases that are not hinged on criminal intent. In such situations, the perpetrator ought to be given a written warning. The perpetrator can also be forced to apologies to the victim affected and where it deems necessary pay for the damages caused. In the event whereby the victim feels threatened, the housing management team should assist the victim in seeking court orders that stop campaigns of intimidation and harassment (CLARKE 2003). The most common approach employed by the courts is the restriction of the said individual(s) from accessing certain areas. It is certain from what has been outlined that the BME community is not satisfied with the services being rendered. This situation is pre-existing and has caused the rising tensions between the residents (MILLIE 2009). It is clear from the analysis of their complaints that perhaps the personnel on the ground are somewhat biased in performing their tasks. As such, in order to ensure that low satisfaction is not experienced in the future, the Equal Status act (2000) should be observed. The personnel who meet on a daily basis with the residents should always be aware of the provisions contained in the act. The residents should also be given a copy of the act to govern their interactions with each other. Once the residents grasp the consequences of certain actions, Anti-Social Behavior between them is bound to reduce. However, this is hinged on the assertiveness of the housing management in ensuring that both their residents and personnel are familiar with the provision of the Equal Status Act (2000). ASB is most rampant in areas of low income, inner cities and abandoned areas. As such, it is anticipated that the association will be faced with low income collection. In most situations, it is not the resident who is unwilling to pay; rather their situation renders them incapable of paying (Norris 2003). In situations such as these, these residents should be advised to seek the aid of the relevant government authorities to aid them in meeting their basic needs. Eviction of these residents should be an action of last resort. This, nonetheless, is the short term approach. The long term approach entails a complete refurbishment of the entire set of real estate. This is expected to motivate and attract a higher class of tenants in seeking residence in the location. This in-turn reduces or leads to a total non-existence of cases of unpaid rent. Both of these approaches, the long term and short term, will culminate in a rise in income collection. However, these endeavors can only be successful if there are pre-existing measures that avert individuals from behaving in an anti-social manner. A powerful measure that can be enforced is guarantying that the tenants are conscious of the fact that, a breach of the newly structured orders will eventuate in eviction from the social housing. Rowdy behavior by children and especially adolescents has always been a cause of concern in many residential properties (Millie, Jacobson, McDonald and Hough 2005). In most cases, the adolescents are usually out on the streets at night. When these individuals are out at night, they become a source of noise and unwanted disturbance. Aside from these vices, their presence generates a sense of disorder in the community. Residents normally shy away from directly confronting these individuals as they are afraid that this will result in vandalism and verbal abuse on the slightest provocation. In most situations, these adolescents congregate at night but have no ill intentions towards the community (Papps 2010). However, a significant number of residents regard them to be a menace. This is especially the case with the elderly. With their regard in mind, it becomes imperative to institute night patrols to police the neighborhood at night. These night patrols can be a joint effort by the housing association and the residents. Additionally, a curfew for the young population ought to be set. This will ensure that these scoundrels are not permitted to roam around at odd hours of the night. In conjunction to this, a minimum number, per group at one meeting, should be set. Thus, any group of teenagers found at night exceeding this set number, is subject to disbandment and can face severe penalties, ranging from community service work or being reported to the police. A trend that is quickly gaining recognition entails the employing of these individuals to act as patrols during the night. This ensures that they are kept busy in at night and, therefore, prevented to loitering idly in the night. This kills two birds with one stone. The scoundrels gain employment and thus restrained from engaging in criminal activities. The housing management team should endeavor to liaise with tenant associations and seek their input in combating and preventing anti-social behavior. In these meetings, the tenants should be encouraged to voice out their opinions on the pre-existing policies and advise on future policies that should be implemented. This is especially useful, arising from the fact that these residents may have already witnessed other programs, which have been implemented in other estates, and have become successful (Norris 2003). Secondly, the residents ought to be persuaded to report all instances of anti-social behavior to the relevant authorities. They should be convinced that in doing so, they are also helping other residents and in overall the whole estate become secure and safe. In order to effectively deal with the tenant and resident associations, it is important to carry out an investigation on their level of representation they command. For the associations that are not a representative of the tenants and residents should not be included in such consultations. This helps in preventing biased policies from being implemented (SQUIRES & STEPHEN 2005). Moreover, giving residents and tenants vital information regarding acts categorized as anti-social, ensures that their anonymity becomes protected, with personal safety being guaranteed. This averts the incidence of reprisal attacks. A widely noted, Landlords have been noted for aiding perpetrators of anti-social behavior in seeking professional assistance. This has been done with an intension to discover the cause of behavior by the perpetrator. In this case, landlords work in collaboration with local authorities. The negative side of this is that this leads in unethical behavior, which water down the efforts to ensure antisocial behavior are brought under control. In the event that strategies geared towards safeguarding the sustainability of social behaviors are downplayed, the action that has been agreed upon must be taken. This ensures cases of anti-social behavior are prevented from escalating to uncontrollable levels. However, certain factors may inhibit the direct implementation of the proposed plan of action. As such, the housing management team must endeavor to implement, fully, the recommendations within two months of their first action. The first two weeks should be dedicated to investigating the exact needs of the BME residents. The next two weeks should then be dedicated towards ensuring that everyone understands the provisions of the Equal Status Act. This will be done simultaneously with strategizing on the best ways to deal with the needs, which were illustrated by the earlier investigation, of the BME. The following month should be dedicated to ensuring that all issues have been dealt with appropriately. This period will also highlight the ineffectiveness of inappropriate measures. Thus, there will be enough time to devise and implement new measures. As such, by the end of the two months, the needs of the BME residents must have been met. Summary Summarily, the strategies to be implemented must be based on the policies of good practice, regulatory guidance taking into consideration other measures the most recent research (BLACKMORE 2007). More significantly, these measures need be the feedback from the residents. This is because the residents are noted as being the direct victims of ASB. This implies that tenants and lease holders should be informed of their rights and subsequent responsibilities in the context of ASB. Moreover, quick action should be taken. This would be in an effort to ensure that the relevant authorities are not condemned with laxity in performing their mandated tasks. It also helps in assuring the residents that, though not visible, action is being taken towards realizing a just and organized society. Their actions, should also demonstrate a shared understanding of the impending responsibilities with other relevant agencies (FLINT 2006). In a more practical approach, the housing management team should always endeavor to take decisive action. Including the residents in the process of preventing and tackling anti-social behavior is based on the fact that these residents are of use especially where they provide useful information concerning the pre-existing Anti-Social Behaviors (CLARKE 2003). The housing management should also work with their partners in preventing the Anti-Social Behavior. These measures need to be availed to the community for purposes of enlightening the residents on the actions being taken. Improved and regular communication system is vital for the residents. The residents should be allowed to air out their concerns and reservations with the relevant agencies on a monthly basis. Implementing a program that ensures there is direct communication with the residents as it concerns course of action that has been adopted, can be a great boost. Recommendations In order to effectively fight against ASB, it is recommended that a partnership between the housing association, local authorities and the residents be forged. This is, depends on the assertiveness of these three parties. Given that the elderly, as well as the BME residents are the most prone to ASB, it is recommended that strategies to be implemented should be based upon their needs. For purposes of ensuring that the ASB becomes tackled effectively is recommended that the outlined action plan is strictly adhered to. References BLACKMORE, L. 2007. Different experiences of the anti social behaviour process. Norwich, School of Social Work and Psychosocial Studies, University of East Anglia. CLARKE, D. 2003. Pro-social and anti-social behaviour. London, Routledge. FLINT, J. 2006. Housing, urban governance and anti-social behaviour: perspectives, policy and practice. Bristol, UK, Policy Press. MILLIE, A. 2009. Anti-social behaviour. Maidenhead, England, Open University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10273871. Millie, A., Jacobson J., McDonald E. and Hough M. 2005. Anti-social Behavior strategies. Bristol, UK, The Policy Press. Norris, M. 2003. Preventing and Tackling Anti-Social Behavior. Dublin, Ireland, The Housing Unit. Papps, P. 2010. Anti-social Behavior Strategies- Individualistic or Holistic. England, Routledge. SQUIRES, P., & STEPHEN, D. E. 2005. Rougher justice: anti-social behaviour and young people. Cullompton, Willan. Read More