Those living in council homes who engage in anti-social behaviour could be at greater risk of eviction based on new housing policies.

It comes as part of Brent Council’s latest ‘tenancy management policy, which sets out its responsibility as a landlord.

The new strategy hopes to offer more security to those renting council homes in the borough.

This includes protecting the wider community by having the power to enact ‘demoted tenancies’ for those involved in anti-social behaviour.

According to a Brent Council report, this allows it to apply a court order that “reduces a tenant’s rights and facilitates the eviction process if required” across a 12-month period.

If the tenant complies with the court order, their tenancy will return to normal after these 12 months.

The new policy also includes plans to end fixed-term tenancies across council homes in the borough, which previously had to be reviewed every five years.

Councillors said this will provide “lifetime security” for its tenants.

Finally, the council will offer joint tenancies to those who are married or in civil partnerships, which gives more than one person responsibility for meeting the requirements of the rental agreement.

This, it explained, will provide greater protection and more options for both parties if they were to split up.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, responsible for housing and welfare reform at Brent Council, said the new policies will allow its tenants to feel “confident and safe in where they live”.

She said this has been amplified during the Covid-19 pandemic, where secure housing has been vital to residents across the borough.