More than 70% of housing associations increased ASB resources last year

On average, landlords increased resources for specialist ASB capacity by 10% between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Housemark’s analysis found that more specialist ASB officers “strongly correlates” with higher ASB case rates. 

This means that if landlords have more specialist staff, they have more resources to tackle ASB and more gets done.

The data firm also found a correlation between increased case volumes and higher transactional satisfaction with ASB case-handling between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

In 2023-24, landlords recorded an average of 37 ASB cases per 1,000 homes.

Historical data showed a significant decline in recorded cases over the past decade, with volumes halved from around 70 cases per 1,000 homes in 2013-14.

However, despite the drop in recorded case volumes, anecdotal evidence suggested that ASB remains as prevalent in social housing today as it was 10 years ago. The discrepancy is likely due to changes in recording practices, where cases are not documented as thoroughly as they were in the past.

Housemark found that ASB cases are often the result of a “failure to act proactively and prevent issues from escalating”. It observed that when landlords and other agencies are slow to respond, the consequences can be significant and issues that could have been resolved early escalate into more complex cases.

This in turn causes frustration for residents and increases strain on housing providers and the communities affected. 

Delayed action can also lead to a breakdown of trust between tenants and landlords, making it harder to resolve problems and creating an environment where ASB can thrive, researchers found. 

They also set out what can help prevent ASB being reported, such as tenancy management work focused on building relationships and community spirit. 

Empathy and tolerance can stem from people knowing and understanding their neighbours, the analysis found, and landlords can work with communities to help residents get to know each other.

To improve satisfaction with handling ASB, landlords should focus on better case-recording practices to ensure issues are recognised and addressed.

They should also invest in specialist ASB staff to handle complex cases and support non-specialist colleagues, researchers advised, as well as provide “clear” communication with tenants about how cases are managed and resolved.

ASB employees should actively monitor neighbourhoods through regular community engagement and have a strong relationship with local policing teams.

Ms Thompson said that multi-agency working is “critical in effectively managing ASB”. “But its success often depends on the active involvement of all parties, particularly the police,” she said. 

She added: “Unfortunately, stretched police resources are having an impact, and slower response times are leaving housing providers to manage ASB without support. 

“Without adequate resources and collaboration, the system struggles to address ASB holistically, causing further delays and placing both tenants and communities at risk.”

Ms Thompson said working collaboratively can “prevent ASB from escalating, reduce its impact on communities, and create safer and more cohesive environments for all”. 

In November, the Housing Ombudsman named 10 landlords in its learning report on ASB.