By Ian McCaffery, involved tenant 

Feeling safe in your home and community is something many of us take for granted – until that sense of security is disrupted. 

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) can have a profound impact on everyday life, affecting mental wellbeing, disrupting daily routines, and creating an environment where people no longer feel comfortable in their own homes.  

But with the right support in place, solutions can be found quickly. For tenants like me, it helps to restore peace of mind and builds trust with my landlord. 

I live on a street which is made up of five bungalows. I am 63 years old and live with my wife.  

It is made up of elderly and disabled residents who look out for one another. When a new tenant moved in and created a play area in her front garden – with swings, slides, a bouncy castle, and a trampoline – it was clear her intentions were good. Creating a dedicated space to encourage children to play outside more is always lovely to see.  

However, the situation quickly became problematic. 

Children from outside of the neighbourhood began using the garden as if it were a public park. It brought noise, disruptions, and most concerningly, safety risks. I watched as children ran into the road between parked cars, creating dangerous situations for both themselves and drivers.  

Even when the tenant wasn’t home, children would enter the garden to play, often causing distress to neighbours. Attempts to speak with the children were mostly met with understanding, but a few were verbally abusive, making the situation harder to manage. 

Seeing the growing anxiety among my neighbours, I reached out to ForHousing’s Community Safety Team. Their response was immediate. They visited the street to assess the situation, taking the time to listen to tenants and fully understand the impact the issue was having on us. 

The team then engaged with the tenant who had set up the play equipment. She was shocked to learn how much distress it had caused her elderly neighbours and immediately took steps to make things right. The very next day, the play equipment was moved into her back garden. 

To further address safety concerns, ForHousing installed a secure gate at the entrance of the close, preventing unsupervised access. From the moment the issue was raised to its resolution, just three days had passed – showing ForHousing’s dedication to tenant wellbeing and community safety. Their swift action made a real difference in restoring our sense of security and trust that we are listened to and are views acted upon. 

This experience made me feel that ForHousing is dedicated to ensuring that tenants feel safe in their homes and communities.  

I was delighted to see their efforts recognised at a national level when they were named Employer of the Year at the Resolve ASB Awards 2025. 

The judging panel praised ForHousing’s Community Safety Team for their commitment to training, cross-team collaboration, and their focus on tackling domestic abuse through the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation.  

DAHA is the leading voice for housing and domestic abuse, setting the benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse. DAHA works to ensure that housing providers take a consistent, robust and survivor-focused approach to tackling domestic abuse. 

By becoming a DAHA-accredited organisation, ForHousing is committed to delivering safe and effective responses to domestic abuse. This means they can act quickly to support survivors and hold perpetrators to account through clear, embedded policies and practices that guide staff at every level. 

Beyond my own case, I have seen first-hand as an involved tenant how ForHousing is making a lasting impact and the importance of a proactive approach to tackling ASB.  

They set high standards with a focus on prevention and rapid responses. And they give us a chance to hold them to account.  

What impressed me most was their genuine care and dedication – this was not just a box-ticking exercise but a team truly committed to restoring tenants’ peace of mind. 

I feel comfortable in my own home, and that means a lot. It’s a relief knowing my neighbours feel the same. Our street has returned to being a safe, welcoming place where everyone, including the children, can enjoy their homes without unnecessary worry or distress. We’ve found a way to coexist peacefully as a community. 

Find out more about ForHousing’s work on community Safety and tackling ASB here.