Keeping our communities safe: Our approach to ASB
2026-08-06
A key element of keeping our customers safe in their homes is ensuring that Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is kept under control within our communities throughout west and north Norfolk.
We’d like to continue that discussion on ASB with you all, touching on customer responsibilities, intervention and early action, case management, enforcement, and partner agencies.
Customer Responsibilities
Freebridge customers are expected to respect both their neighbours, and the community they live in. With that in mind, we encourage customers to:
• Resolve issues directly when it is safe to do so
• Be realistic about our role as landlord
• Take responsibility for minor disputes
• Maintain regular contact with us
• Respect others’ lifestyles and reasonable disturbances
• Cooperate in investigations (e.g. witness statements, court attendance)
• Be considerate to neighbours
• Not commit or allow ASB by visitors
• Report crimes, harassment, domestic abuse, or ASB
• Use evidence tools (like the Noise App)
• Intervene with early action
When investigating ASB, Freebridge may use any of the following:
• Interviews
• Warnings (recorded)
• Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs)
• Good Neighbour Agreements (GNAs)
• Mediation
• Referrals to support services
• Enforcing tenancy terms
• Case management In all cases that we are looking into, Freebridge will:
• Treat complainants fairly and with empathy
• Triage reports and advise if they’re out of scope
• Assign a lead officer
• Contact you within five working days (or one day for serious cases)
• Carry out a risk assessment if needed
• Agree next steps with you
• Keep you updated (usually every two weeks)
• Review actions at least every month
• Deliver enforcement
When needed, we may use:
• Injunctions (with requirements or prohibitions)
• Possession proceedings
• Mandatory possession (Ground 7a, Housing Act 1988)
• Section 21 notices
• Eviction
• The powers of other agencies
We may ask partner agencies to use powers like:
• Community Protection
• Warnings/Notices
• Closure Orders
• Criminal Behaviour Orders
• Closing Cases
• When we may close ASB cases
We will try to contact you before closing a case. If we can’t reach you, you’ll receive a written explanation. Cases may close when:
• ASB did not happen or has stopped
• All appropriate actions are completed
• A more suitable agency is handling it
• The complainant or witnesses don’t engage
• You don’t provide needed information
• There’s insufficient evidence
• No further action is possible
• The complaint is deemed malicious
Please call us on 03332 404 444 and ask for our ASB and Safeguarding Team if you’d like to talk to us about ASB.
You can also email [email protected] if you’d prefer to.