NEW council house tenants will be put on probation for 12 months in a bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour.

Housing bosses say that introductory tenancies will make it easier to turf people out if they cause trouble or do not pay their rent.

Current tenants enjoy secure tenancies, and can only be evicted if the council can convince a county court judge that it is reasonable to grant an eviction order.

The new method means councils only have to demonstrate that there has been a breach of tenancy conditions and that correct procedures have been followed.

If probationary tenants complete 12 months without breaching conditions, they will automatically get a secure tenancy. Until then, unlike secure tenants, they will not be allowed to take in lodgers, make improvements, mutually exchange properties, or sub-let. But the council may use its discretion to allow the first three of these, depending on circumstances.

Last year, the council served 1,430 Notices of Seeking Possession (NSPs) for rent arrears on tenancies that were less than one year old.

There were also 51 new cases of nuisance, which resulted in six NSPs being served and just one court hearing. The council says it would have sought eviction of those latter tenants served with an NSP if an introductory scheme had been in place.

The scheme was approved by councillors at Wednesday's (Sep 24) executive, who said that residents' groups and existing council tenants supported it.

Councillor Roy Walker, Tory leader, asked why it had not been brought in sooner. "In my ward, people have been complaining about anti-social behaviour for years," he said. "It's a small minority, some into a life of violence and drug-dealing, living next door to older or disabled people who are at their wits' end. One guy has smashed up his house three times and we still let him live there."

Coun Walker encouraged private landlords to use similar tenancies which would stop the problem being simply moved on. Coun Wayne Campbell said: "There are major problems relating to a handful of people who are affecting the quality of life for the majority.

"This will help us in the fight. However, we're only moving the problem until we can get the private sector involved."