This information is for people living in Northern Ireland.
It can be frustrating and even scary to have problems with your neighbours. If you’re experiencing antisocial behaviour, you can get help.
You’re also responsible to make sure that you, and anyone in your home, does not take part in antisocial behaviour. This includes visitors and guests.
Examples of antisocial behaviour
Antisocial behaviour includes actions and activities that upset the community, such as:
- vandalism
- harassment
- illegal activity
- noise, including noise from animals
- drink and drug use leading to trouble
- racism, homophobia or other kinds of discrimination
Being a good neighbour
Keep your neighbourhood safe and friendly by sticking to your responsibilities. Make sure you show your neighbours the same respect you expect from them. For example:
- keep areas outside your home, such as gardens or yards, clean and safe
- take out and bring your bins back in after collection
- keep noise down, don’t play loud music or talk loudly in communal areas and corridors
- tell your neighbours if you’re having work done, during what hours and when it will end
- keep pets under control, don’t let them wander or foul a neighbour’s property
Getting help with antisocial neighbours
To deal with antisocial behaviour, start by contacting the person in charge of your property:
- for social tenants, contact the Housing Executive or housing association
- for private tenants, contact the landlord, estate agent, or your local council. Housing Rights has a free mediation service for tenants and landlords in the private rented sector. Mediation can help to resolve disputes between neighbours who are private tenants.
If the tenants with antisocial behaviour live in a house in multiple occupation (HMO), the landlord must take complaints seriously. Continued antisocial behaviour complaints could lead to the property losing its HMO licence.
You can also call the non-emergency police line 101 to report any antisocial behaviour.
Court action for antisocial behavior
Social landlords, the council or the police, can all take legal action to deal with antisocial behaviour.
If you’re causing antisocial behaviour, you might have to comply with an:
- acceptable behaviour contract – you’ll have to agree to stick to certain terms for six months or you’ll be taken to court
- antisocial behaviour order – you’ll have to agree to keep to certain terms or risk going to prison for up to five years. The court will only use this option once other options failed.
Depending on the situation, social landlords will usually try to deal with antisocial behaviour before going to court by:
- giving you the chance to explain if you’re accused of antisocial behaviour
- mediating between you and the person affected by your antisocial behaviour, or
- mediating between you and the person causing antisocial behaviour
Private landlords do not need to try other options. They can evict you for antisocial behaviour.