What kind of justice is this?

[sandyRoe]

A parent, probably the mother, of a youth convicted of rioting has been served with an eviction notice. Since when was the concept of collective punishment part of English law?

http://uk.news.yahoo....on-notice-served.html

[Barmaid]

It is one of the grounds of Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1985 which was introduced to kerb anti social behaviour.

The Court may grant possession if the tenant or anyone residing with him has been convicted of causing nuisance or annoyance to anyone living in the locality or of an indictable offence in the locality of the property.

These grounds are regularly used by Housing Associations when tenants do drugs at the property or assault a neighbour.

There will also be the further ground of being in breach of the tenancy agreement which will undoubtedly contain provisions about criminal activity.

[sara3]

I have two teenagers. one is very well behaved, the other has a bit of the devil in him. he's no thug, by a million miles, but they had the same upbringing. they were parented exactly the same way.

[nannybooby]

this is about social housing not just council housing. ie a reduced rent to help the needy. If your tennancy has been breached by the behaviour of a MINOR in our care - your child you clearly cannt control thosein your care and ergo the same applies to the property in your care. Social housing isnt a right its a benefit and you must treat it as such. No sympathy here

[sandyRoe]

"... causing nuisance or annoyance to anyone living in the locality or of an indictable offence in the locality of the property."
Who will be called on to define 'locality'?
As I've said earlier if any of these families are actually evicted I'll eat my hat.
Knee jerk reactions to problems seldom come up with the right solutions.

[boxtops]

One has actually been served notice - I heard on the radio this morning that, as Barmaid says, the person who signs the tenancy agreement promises that all her household will behave in a proper manner, otherwise the contract is void.

[Barmaid]

The Court will define the meaning of locality if it hasn't already been defined.

I have seen a family evicted when the 3 sons would regularly, beat, rob and generally cause trouble in the town where they lived.

[ummmm]

Exactly Sara...

I have 3 kids. Child 1 and 3 have never even had a detention. Child 2....I was up the school about nearly every week at one point.

[Ric.ror]

It's counterproductive they can't leave a family on the streets or shouldn't
Im all for punishing the so and so's but this will only make a bad situation (family) worse

[Khandro]

The principle is known as "Collective Responsibility" and was used much more ruthlessly by the Soviets - sending whole families to the Gulag because of one member's 'misdemeanour', and also by the Nazis ditto, to concentration camps. It is still in use, I believe, by the Israelis. Very unpleasant, but effective.

[jno]

as a parent, I shudder at the thought of being held responsible for everything my child ever did. Being evicted for not being a good enough parent? There but for the grace of God...

[Barmaid]

The other thing the court will look at is if it is "reasonable" to either evict the family/give a suspended possession order or a demoted tenancy (this means the security of tenure that a public housing tenant has). If it is little Tommy's only misdemeanour, I think it unlikely that the Court will evict.

However if he has been a rare pain in the posterior and there are lots of reports of him up to no good, it is more likely.

[cc1]

Ummmm, you say you were up at school because of your child's behaviour almost every week at one point. You went though and as you say it happened "at one point" it implies it has done the trick. There are an awful lot of parents who never set foot inside school unless it's to complain or to demand "mi'rites"; support for the school is not forthcoming and they refuse to come in to discuss behaviour.