Anti-social behaviour toolkit

Noise

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is:

  • persistent or night-time loud noise and music
  • persistent dog barking.

Persistent noise is normally considered to last longer than 30 minutes and for several days within one week. Night-time noise is considered between 11pm and 7am.

Contact the RSPCA if you're concerned about an animal’s welfare.

The following is not considered ASB:

  • children playing and crying
  • footsteps
  • general living sounds, such as DIY, the washing machine or vacuuming during the day
  • neighbours arguing and shouting, unless persistently causing a noise nuisance.

If you're concerned for a child’s welfare, contact children’s social care.

If you're concerned for someone’s safety, call Kent Police on 999 or 101 (non-emergency).

Report noise nuisance

 To help us investigate your complaint, please:

  • log dates and times of incidents using ASB diary sheets
  • send your diary sheets to us
  • record noise disturbances if possible.

Report noise nuisance

You can also report noise nuisance by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

In some instances, we may refer noise complaints to our Environmental Protection Team and work in partnership to resolve issues.

Harassment and abuse

If the associated behaviour is of a criminal nature you need to report this to the police immediately. You must also let them know if you're concerned about your safety. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and we'll work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

If the behaviour is ongoing, please log dates and times of occurrences on an ASB diary sheet.

Completed forms can be submitted online or sent to: Tenancy Team, Medway Council Housing Services, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR.

Report harassment or abuse

Untidy gardens

This is considered a tenancy breach rather than ASB.

Report an untidy garden

You can also report an untidy garden by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Drugs

Drug use, dealing and cultivation is a criminal offence. You need to report this to the police immediately and let them know if you're concerned for your safety. Once you've reported it to the police, let us know the incident report number so we can make contact and work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

If any drug paraphernalia, such as pills, syringes and needles are found on HRA Housing Services land, we will ask our contractor to remove them immediately. If you discover any paraphernalia, contact us on 01634 333 344.

If the behaviour is ongoing, please log dates and times of occurrences on an ASB diary sheet.

Completed forms can be submitted online or sent to: Tenancy Team, Medway Council Housing Services, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR.

Report problems with drugs

Vehicle-related issues

We'll investigate the following car-related issues as a breach of tenancy:

  • a vehicle is in a dangerous state of disrepair and parked on HRA Housing Services owned land
  • a vehicle is declared SORN and left on HRA Housing Services owned land
  • if any car repairs and maintenance are occurring, on HRA Housing Services owned land, beyond normal domestic work
  • if a vehicle has been abandoned on land owned by HRA Housing Services.

We'll also investigate complaints about unreasonable noise associated with vehicles outside our properties as ASB.

Report vehicle-related issues

You can also report vehicle-related issues by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Report vehicles without a valid tax, MOT or insurance to the DVLA.

Dogs

Under the law, any dog (of any breed or type) can be considered dangerous in any place if it's not kept under control and shows aggressive behaviour.

If a dog has bitten someone or if you're in fear of your safety or the safety of someone else due to a dangerously out of control dog, you should contact the police immediately. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and we'll work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

The following would be considered a tenancy breach rather than ASB:

  • a dog that is being left unattended or allowed to roam in a communal area or within the locality of a property
  • dog fouling not being picked up by the owner on HRA Housing Services land.

Report a dog issue

You can also report a dog issue by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

You can report persistent dog barking and noise nuisance as ASB.

Contact the RSPCA if you're concerned about an animal’s welfare.

Drunk or rowdy behaviour

If the behaviour is criminal, you need to report this to the police immediately. You must also let them know if you're concerned about your safety. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and we'll work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

You can also report concerns about groups of people causing a nuisance or annoyance.

If the behaviour has been ongoing, please log dates and times with details of each occurrence on an ASB diary sheet.

Completed forms can be submitted online or sent to: Tenancy Team, Medway Council Housing Services, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR.

Report drunk or rowdy behaviour

You can also report drunk or rowdy behaviour by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Domestic abuse

Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the police.

Find out what to do if you cannot speak.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, hate crime or harassment and need to leave your home immediately, our adult social care team can support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you or someone you know is being abused, you can report it to us by:

  • phoning 01634 334 466 or text relay: 18008 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
  • phoning 03000 419 191 or text relay: 18008 (out of hours)
  • emailing ss.accessandinfo@medway.gov.uk.

You can also contact:

  • Housing Options Service on 01634 304 400 from Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.15pm, and Friday, 8.30am to 4.45pm
  • Domestic Abuse 24-hour Support Line on 0808 2000 247.

If you're a victim of domestic abuse and need advice relating to your housing tenancy, you can contact us online or by phone. Please be assured we will not leave a voicemail or discuss your case with anyone else who may answer your phone.

Get advice

You can also report domestic abuse by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Violence such as assault, arson and knife crime

These are criminal offences, and you need to report them to the police immediately. You must also let them know if you're concerned for your safety. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and where possible an officer’s name, so we can work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

Provide an incident number

You can also provide an incident number by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Rough sleeping

Rough sleeping includes people who are sleeping in places that are not intended for living.

If you're concerned about someone over the age of 18 that you have seen sleeping rough, you can report it online.

Tell us about a rough sleeper

If you're concerned about someone under the age of 18 that appears to be rough sleeping, you must contact the police immediately.

Fly-tipping, vandalism and graffiti

HRA Housing Services land

If the incident is on Medway Council HRA Housing Services land, please complete our online form. You should include:

  • the location details
  • photos if possible.

Report a location

You can also report a location by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

If fly-tipping has taken place on HRA Housing Services owned land, we'll remove:

  • fly-tipping containing dangerous items within 24 hours and all other fly-tipping within 5 working days
  • offensive graffiti within 24 hours of it being reported.

Public land

More about reporting fly-tipping.

More about graffiti and vandalism.

You can also call 01634 333 333.

Private land

If the incident is on private land, this will be the responsibility of the private landowner. If it's not removed for some time, you may report untidy land online.

You can also call 01634 333 333.

If you're unsure who owns the land, you can make a report online or phone 01634 333 333.

Cuckooing and mate crime

Cuckooing is a term used to describe when someone, most often a drug dealer, move into and takes over a property. This usually involves taking advantage of the person that lives there. 

Mate crime is a term used when a person is harmed or taken advantage of by someone they thought of or think of as a friend. This may include financial abuse or theft, emotional abuse or forcing the tenant to commit crime.

If you suspect a property is being used for drug dealing or someone is being abused or taken advantage of, you should contact the police immediately. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and we'll work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

Provide an incident number

You can also provide an incident number by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

If the person is vulnerable and may have care needs or require additional support, you should also contact Adult Social Care.

Hate crime and racism

This is a criminal offence, and you need to report this to the police immediately. You must also let them know if you're concerned for your safety. Once you've reported the incident to the police, contact us with the incident number and we'll work with them, and you, to agree next steps.

Provide an incident number

You can also provide an incident number by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).

Unsanitary conditions or hoarding

If you have immediate concerns for your own safety or someone else’s safety, you should call the police.

Some people suffer from a condition known as hoarding disorder, where they may acquire an excessive number of items resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. It's considered a significant problem if it interferes with everyday living, such as leaving a person unable to use their kitchen or other rooms in the property. Some may not believe they have an issue whilst others are aware but feel ashamed or guilty about it.

Hoarding can create safety concerns, especially in the event of a fire or emergency event where the person may not be able to escape quickly, if at all.

You can contact us if you're concerned about your own hoarding, or a relative or neighbour’s hoarding.

Report unsanitary conditions or hoarding

You can also report unsanitary conditions or hoarding by calling 01634 333 344 (office hours Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday, 9.30am to 4.45pm).