Bad neighbours 'should be offered money for good behaviour'

Nightmare neighbours who terrorise people on some of Britain's roughest and poorest estates should be offered cash and other benefits in return for good behaviour, say researchers.

Nightmare neighbours who terrorise people on some of Britain's roughest and poorest estates should be offered cash and other benefits in return for good behaviour, say researchers.

A report, by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a centre-left thinktank, found threatening people with conviction and using the law to fight anti-social behaviour is not improving life on large housing estates for thousands of people.

The study of the future of social housing found councils or housing associations which reward tenants with a yearly bonus for good behaviour, such as paying rent on time, looking after their garden and property, or getting involved in community activities, have reduced late-night noise, anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

The researchers say other benefits that could be offered should include low-cost home insurance, discounts on household goods, or access to training and work opportunities.

The proposals for new "contracts" between landlords and tenants in social housing to prevent anti-social behaviour are the result of a year-long IPPR Forum on the Future of Social Housing.

The Forum, made up of Britain's leading housing experts, believes rewarding good behaviour by benefits and cash is the only way to improve the life chances of people in our most deprived neighbourhoods and ensure everyone has the bedrock of a decent home in a safe community.

"The government has been rightly congratulated for its major investment in public services, but without tackling the apartheid at the heart of housing system the money will alleviate some of the symptoms but may not tackle the root causes," said Matthew Taylor, director of the IPPR.

"Housing is a significant factor in determining health, educational attainment, safety and security. As a society we pay hugely, and in many ways, for the failure in housing."

Victor Adebowale, chief executive of Centrepoint and chair of the Forum, said: "Our vision for social housing is about a united approach, housing united across tenure, landlord, individual and community."

Tom Manion, chief executive of Irwell Valley Housing Association, which has 6,500 properties, introduced a reward scheme for good tenant behaviour two years ago. "A culture of non-payment of rent had built up on many estates, which led to breakdown in community relations," he said.

"The good-behaviour scheme has improved the situation. We now spend 27 per cent less on security, such as boarding up houses burglar alarms and dealing with vandalism than two years ago."

Four out of five people who live in the housing association accommodation are members of the Irwell Valley Gold Service scheme, and receive an individual bonus of £52 a year, low-cost contents insurance, education grants and scholarships.

Of those originally rejected from the scheme because they were not good tenants, 60 per cent have changed their behaviour to qualify within two years.

Only 1 per cent of residents was removed from the scheme for breaking the good-behaviour contract.