At ForHousing, we are committed to creating safe and vibrant communities where people can thrive. We understand the impact that anti-social behaviour and criminality can have on individuals and neighbourhoods. That’s why we take a firm but fair approach to tackling these issues, ensuring that our tenants feel safe and supported. 

Recently, we were granted possession of a property after a prolonged period of serious criminal activity linked to the tenant’s family members. The tenant’s adult sons had been causing significant distress to the local community for several years, engaging in youth nuisance, drug use, bullying, harassment, and other criminal activities. 

Understandably, local tenants and residents were hesitant to come forward with first-hand evidence due to fear of repercussions. However, in October 2021, with support from Greater Manchester Police, we secured a Suspended Possession Order (SPO) against the tenant. This order explicitly prohibited the tenant’s adult sons from residing in or visiting the property. 

Despite this legal action, the sons continued to break the terms of the SPO. In April 2023, Greater Manchester Police executed a warrant at the property and discovered a quantity of drugs, confirming a breach of the order. This was just weeks after the sons were involved in a serious incident where a man was shot at in a local park on a Sunday afternoon. The subsequent police investigation revealed that the sons had been at their mother’s property on the day, planning the attack and in possession of a firearm. 

In February 2024, they were each sentenced to 32 years in prison for attempted murder. Given the clear breach of the SPO, we applied for a warrant, and the family was evicted in February 2025. 

Eviction is always a last resort. Over the years, we had sought to engage with the tenant and her family, offering various forms of intervention and support. However, despite this, they continued to remain involved in serious criminal activity affecting their local community. 

We took this stand to send a clear message that the safety of our tenants and communities are our top priorities, and we will continue to work in partnership with law enforcement and local residents to uphold this commitment. 

Everyone deserves to feel secure in their home. By taking decisive action, we hope to reassure our tenants that we are dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and respectful neighbourhoods.