Noise disturbance is by far the most common type of anti-social behaviour reported to us and nearly every aspect of anti-social behaviour involves some level of noise whether it be loud music, parties, banging, alcohol related disorder, or foul and abusive language.

Before making a formal complaint to us we would ask you to speak to the person who is making the noise and make them aware of how you are being affected. They may not have any idea that their behaviour is affecting you. We strongly recommend you do not retaliate, if you get into a tit-for-tat situation (e.g. they play loud music at 2am, so next night you hoover at 5am, so then the next they start banging on the walls, etc.) it can quickly get out control.

If speaking to your neighbour proves unsuccessful or you do not feel it is appropriate to approach your neighbour, then depending on the nature of your complaint, would dictate your next course of action. We will work in partnership with you in investigating the noise nuisance. However, if the noise is related to criminality or serious matters relating to anti social behaviour we will deal with this type of report via our anti social behaviour processes.

The Noise App

We use the The Noise App as a tool to investigate all noise complaints. You can only use the app if we have an open case with you; we will ask you to download the app and record the noise that you are experiencing. We will then listen to the recordings and assist you with an action plan to address the noise.

You don’t have to record the whole event – just a representative snapshot of the noise as it is happening. You can record up to 30 seconds and if you need to, you can make several recordings to be added to the same case.

We will work in partnership with your Council Regulatory Services and Environmental Health Team if your case requires this approach.

Dog fouling

This is an environmental crime and therefore the managed by your Local Council. The law states that being aware a dog has fouled or not having a suitable bag is not a reasonable excuse. If someone does fail to clean up after their pet, it falls to the Council to get rid of it. Therefore this behaviour is against the law and may result in a £100 fine, up to a mximumn of £1000 if prosecuted.

We expect dog owners in our communities to clear up after their dogs each day. If you find that your neighbour is not cleaning up dog dirt on a regular basis you can report this to your local Council.

Dog barking, noise nuisance and neighbour complaints 

We ask you to speak to your neighbour if their dog is barking and howling and explain how you are being affected. Some dogs are very reactive to noise and light and the dog owner may not realise that their dog is affecting the peaceful enjoyment of your home. If speaking to your neighbour hasn’t worked we will work with the dog owners and you to assist change but in some cases consistent and prolonged barking can constitute a Statutory Noise Nuisance under the Environmental Health Act 1990 and this should be reported to your local council.

Dangerous dogs

If a dog is aggressive towards you and you fear for your safety (even if it’s not bitten you), please report it to the Police immediately. You will find more information about controlling your dog in public here.

Fly tipping is defined as an ‘illegal deposit of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it’. Tipping a mattress, electrical items or a bin bag full of rubbish in the street causes a local nuisance and makes an area look ugly and run down.

You local council is responsible for investigating, clearing and taking appropriate enforcement action in relation to small scale fly tipping on public land which carries a fine of up to £50,000 (unlimited if the case goes to the Crown Court) or an offender can even be sent to prison.

We ask if you witness any person fly tipping not on our land please gather as much evidence and report this to you local council.

If you witness any person flytipping on Hafod land please report to us and include a photograph using the Hafod 24/7 app. We will take action against the person(s) as this is a prohibited behaviour.

What is domestic abuse in the UK?

The Governments definition of domestic abuse is: “Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”

If you are experiencing domestic abuse there is support available. You are not alone.

You can get help:

  • With legal issues, domestic abuse is against the law
  • With housing, if we have a report of domestic abuse we will support you along with the support agencies
  • With money
  • Protecting your children
  • Protecting yourself
  • Government benefits
  • Confidential and Specialist Services to support you

Important contact details

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Safe Lives)

The Wales Domestic Abuse Helpine

Cardiff Rise

Vale of Glamorgan Atal Y Fro

Newport Cyfannol Womens Aid

Bridgend Womens Aid

RCT Pontypridd Womens Aid

Merthyr Tydfil Domestic abuse Resource Team

 0808 2000 247

0808 801 0800

02920460566

01446 744755

0330 056 4456

01656 679555

01443 400791

07539 170396

It is illegal to possess, supply and produce controlled drugs in the UK – Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

We have a zero tolerance to substance misuse in our properties. As this a criminal behaviour we work in partnership with the Police to deal with any reports that relate to the misuse of drugs in our properties.

Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides police with the power to search a property if they have reasonable cause to suspect unlawful possession as it is illegal to allow our property that we own and rent to be used for drug-related acitivity. However, we are not legally responsible if our contract holders involve themselves in drugs in our properties, but as a responsible landlord we will work with our communities and partners in dealing with the problem.

Reporting to the Police

  • Telephone 999 if you require an immediate response
  • Telephone 101 if you do not require an immediate Police response and wish to report drugs in a property
  • Report online to Gwent Police or South Wales Police
  • Make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers

Once you have made a report to the Police they will provide you with an incident number or an occurence number. When you report ASB to us using our online form, please ensure you provide details of this number.

What is cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a term for the takeover of a house by gangs from outside the area who use the home as a base. They specifically target and befriend vulnerable people (such as those with support needs, learning disabilities or mental health problems) as they may be isolated, lonely and easy to manipulate. The next thing the person knows, their home’s been taken over and someone from the gang is staying there –  exploiting others through illegal activities such as prostitution, people trafficking, modern slavery and drug dealing.

County lines – Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults

‘County lines’ is a term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns, often using violence to drive out local dealers and then exploiting local children and vulnerable people to sell drugs.

The gang might also send young, vulnerable people from their own area to distribute drugs, often intimidating and threatening them to make them stay. The impact of this is that young people become indebted to the gang and are forced into criminal activity and exploitation to pay off debts and are living in fear, feeling they’re trapped.

What you can do

After you’ve spoken with the police, please complete our online ASB form and provide your incident report number and the police officer you spoke to. We’ll use this information to work with them, and you, on next steps.

Graffitti is a form of criminal damage and takes many forms, including tags which are often gang related to mark their territory, and can appear anywhere. When graffiti appears on our properties and in our communities it can damage properties, cause public safety issues and negatively impact our communites and neighbourhoods. 

If you witness any person defacing any of our properties please report this to the Police:

Verabal abuse and harassment is where someone creates an atmosphere that makes you feel uncomfortable. This could be because you feel offended, intimidated or humiliated. In some cases, abusive behaviour might be part of a pattern of-anti social behaviour.

If your neighbour is physically violent or verablly abusive or behaves in a dangerous way towards you, you should report this to the Police:

Once you have made a report to the Police they will provide you with an incident number or an occurence number. When you report ASB to us using our online form, please ensure you provide details of this number.

Hate crime is defined as ‘Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.’

A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender. Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are reported and recorded by the Police.

Evidence of the hate element is not a requirement. You do not need to personally perceive the incident to be hate related. It would be enough if another person, a witness or even a police officer thought that the incident was hate related.

We have a zero tolerance to any contract holder that engages in hate related behaviours and will work with the victims and agencies to support any criminal action and or enforcement that agencies will undertake.

South Wales Victim Focus – South Wales Victim Focus provides help and support to anyone in South Wales affected by crime. The service is free and confidential.

We use overt CCTV in some of our neighbourhoods. This is not managed 24/7 but is recording 24/7. 

  • We will only download any recordings for evidence gathering after an event or incident relating to matters of anti-social behaviour.
  • We will also download to any agency that has a right to view CCTV following this agency complying with the relevant Data Protection Act.
  • We are unable to give any contract holder access to CCTV for any incident or event that they have been victim but if this information is requested by an agency who has the right to access.