Community safety and neighbourhood support

Find out how we help keep communities safe, including mediation, antisocial behaviour action, CCTV, rehousing advice and specialist support.

If you are experiencing antisocial behaviour, neighbourhood disputes or feel unsafe in your home or community, we have a range of options to help.

Mediation

Mediation is our first choice for dealing with neighbourhood disputes and we offer an impartial mediation service through an external company.

Acceptable behaviour agreements or contracts

An acceptable behaviour agreement or contract is a written agreement or contract that gets the person who is behaving in an antisocial way to recognise their behaviour and how it affects others.

The agreement is between:

  • the person behaving in an antisocial way
  • us
  • the police
  • any other involved agency

The agreement aims to:

  • make the person responsible for their actions
  • make the person admit to everyone involved that their behaviour may be unacceptable
  • include information about specific incidents as examples of things they will stop doing
  • Notice of seeking possession

In most cases, before we serve a notice of seeking possession, we will send a customer a letter to let them know we are going to serve them with a notice. The letter explains the parts of their tenancy agreement they are breaching and gives them time to change their behaviour before any further legal action.

CCTV

We use CCTV and noise monitoring equipment in neighbourhoods to prevent, investigate and detect antisocial behaviour and crime.

Rehousing

If you need to be rehoused, we will give you housing advice and talk with you about safe housing. We will give you advice and support if you cannot get into your home or are afraid to stay in your home. The police may go with you if you need to get personal belongings from your home.

We usually find alternative housing when there is a proven threat of violence or intimidation and the person threatening or intimidating you knows where you live.

Support for young people

Young person’s 24‑hour support – Holmewood

Holmewood provides supported accommodation for young people aged 16–21 who are:

  • leaving care
  • homeless
  • at risk of homelessness

The service includes:

  • 12 self‑contained flats
  • 24‑hour, year‑round support
  • shared communal spaces

Young people can stay for up to two years, depending on their needs.

Frauds and scams - ways to stay safe

Visiting your home

We will always let you know if we are coming to your home to complete any work. This will either be a letter, text message or phone call.

Always ask to see a tradesperson’s identification. Call us on 0191 525 5000 and select option 2 if you would like to confirm someone’s identity.

Our tradespeople and sub-contractors will never ask you for money.

Telephone calls

Never give your details out over the telephone. This includes your:

  • bank details
  • personal information
  • tenancy information

Reporting frauds and scams

If you suspect someone is not from Gentoo or a sub-contractor, do not let them into your home. You can:

If you need urgent support or think you are in danger, you can call the police on 999. You can also register with emergencySMS so you can send text messages to the police.

Possible frauds and scams

People may:

  • offer to check your home for damp
  • offer to check your boiler
  • offer to work on outstanding repairs
  • try to arrange surveys for outstanding repairs
  • ask for images of your home and front door
  • offer to get you a direct debit refund through your bank