(Lancashire Police liasing with Gary Melia, New Progress Housing Association's Head of Housing Operations.)

25 November 2007

NEIGHBOUR FROM HELL ORDERED TO LEAVE

Law-abiding residents are celebrating as New Progress Housing Association obtained a possession order against another nuisance tenant who made neighbours' lives 'hell'.

New Progress tenant, Catrina O'Neil, caused misery for her neighbours in the Seven Stars area of Leyland with frequent episodes of excessive noise, threatening and abusive behaviour, and alcohol-fuelled violence.

The mother of two also allowed intoxicated youths and adults to gather in and around her property on Seven Stars Road and operated an 'open house'.

Despite continued efforts by the Association to work with O'Neill to address her behaviour, the tenant refused to change her poor behaviour.

Working with evidence provided by local residents and Leyland Policing Team, District Judge Anson, at Preston County Court on the 13th November granted the Association possession of her home.

Community Beat Manager, John Penter of the Leyland Neighbourhood Policing Team said: 'We fully support New Progress's actions against this tenant. We will continue to work with the New Progress to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour in our communities.'

Says Bernie Keenan, Managing Director: 'We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the rights of tenants to feel safe in their communities.'

'We always offer support to any tenant who is at risk of losing their tenancy to try and resolve the situation. However, when a tenant refuses to address their behaviour and continues to disrupt the quality of life for people in the surrounding area, we will enforce their tenancy conditions.'

New Progress's Tenancy Enforcement Team self-represented at the court hearing making this their  31st 'DIY' case. Self-representation significantly reduces the legal costs of court proceedings for both the organisation , its tenants, and the defendant.

O'Neil has now has moved from the area.

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