VIOLENT tenants who drive their partners or family from their homes, will themselves face being shown the door by their council landlords.

An anti-domestic violence clause has been included in a new Tenants' Charter for more than 4,000 council homes in Pendle -- all part of a crackdown on violent and anti-social behaviour to keep estate communities happy and stop tenants leaving their council homes.

The new draft tenancy agreement further underlines the council's policy of zero-tolerance to anti-social behaviour.

Officers say that over the last 18 months a significant number of disruptive tenants left properties after being threatened with legal action by the town hall.

Their report to councillors states that dealing with anti-social behaviour was the most important aspect of housing management and the best way of ensuring the number of empty council houses was kept to a minimum.

Failure to do so, they add, would lead to good tenants leaving properties.

Unlike Burnley, which demolished more than 200 wrecked properties and handed over another 400 empty homes to new landlord, Burnley and Padiham Housing last year, Pendle prides itself on having only a handful of empty council properties.

The draft agreement spells out in detail tenants' responsibilities regarding nuisance.

It also makes it clear that criminal activity would not be tolerated either in council homes or by tenants, who will face eviction if they commit an arrestable offence, including burglary, possession of controlled drugs, criminal damage or assault.

On domestic violence, if one partner leaves a house because of threats of violence against the other partner or members of their family, the council would take action in court to regain possession of the property.

The draft agreement is now open to study and consultation before final decisions are made.

But Pendle Services Committee chairman Frank Clifford, said he had no doubts that anti-violence and social behaviour clauses would remain a vital part of the final agreement.

"We will do everything we as a council can to ensure people in council houses can live in peace and without fear," he said.