Antisocial behaviour

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

This section explains what antisocial behaviour is in the eyes of the law and what you can do about it if you are having problems in your area. If your neighbours are complaining about you, these pages will also help you to work out where you stand.

What is antisocial behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour is an increasing problem in our society today and the law has recently been changed to deal with these problems. This page explains what antisocial behaviour is in the eyes of the law and gives some examples. Read more 

Dealing with antisocial behaviour

Whether you rent or own your house, there are a variety of things you can do to try to stop the problems in your neighbourhood. Read this page for some practical tips on what you can do to try and alleviate the problem. Read more 

Private landlords and antisocial behaviour

Most owners and landlords of privately rented properties have to register with the council and take responsibility for antisocial behaviour that occurs in properties that they rent out. Councils can make private landlords take action to deal with antisocial behaviour caused by their tenants or by people visiting properties they own. Read more 

Antisocial behaviour orders

If antisocial behaviour is a really big problem in your area, your local council or registered social landlord might be able to get a special kind of court order, called an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO), to stop it. Read this page for more information on what they are and how they work. Read more 

What to do about an ASBO

If the council, or a registered social landlord, has applied for an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) against you, or someone else in your household, this page can give you some guidance. It also tells you how an ASBO will affect you if one has already been granted. Read more 

How to avoid complaints

There are some really simple things you can do to show your neighbours that you want to get on with them. If you follow these tips, your neighbours are less likely to complain about you. If a problem ever does arise, your neighbours are more likely to talk to you about it if you have established a good relationship with them in the first place. Read more 

Eviction and antisocial behaviour

If you are a tenant, it is possible that you could be evicted for antisocial behaviour in certain circumstances. It will also depend on who your landlord is and also what kind of tenancy you have. Read more 

Other solutions

If the council decides that it isn't appropriate to apply for an antisocial behaviour order, there might be other things they can do to help. This section takes a look at some other possible solutions. Read more 

Antisocial behaviour and children

There are various things that can be done to stop children behaving antisocially. Whether the children are yours or someone else's, this section explains the options. Read more