HOMELESS campaigner Shelter has slammed Blackburn with Darwen Council's new one-year tenancy trial period as "unnecessarily harsh."

Shelter's regional branch says that the policy - which was aimed at cutting tenancy problems such as nuisance neighbours and rent arrears - will increase homelessness.

Blackburn with Darwen Council introduced the policy after a recent change to the 1996 Housing Act which allowed a new form of Local Authority Tenancy.

It was hailed as a solution to nuisance neighbours but Shelter are concerned that not only will it fail to do so, it will also reduce the rights of new tenants and create inequality.

Blackburn with Darwen is one of ten North West councils to take up the new policy.

Shelter say new tenants will no longer have the same rights as their established neighbours and that if they are evicted, they will only have two weeks to call for a review of the decision.

Shelter's Sallie Bridgen said: "We are concerned that many people will not request a review in time, or be unaware of their rights.

"They will then not only lose their home, but be likely to be found 'intentionally homeless' by the council and not offered further assistance."

She added: "This is an unnecessarily harsh way of dealing with a symptom of poverty.

"Introductory tenants have less security and less time in which to resolve their problems. It is therefore vital that they seek advice quickly. Anyone in this situation should contact Shelter or their local Citizens Advice Bureau."

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing department said: "We are confident that introductory tenancies will not lead to a homelessness problem in Blackburn and Darwen as we have the support mechanisms in place to offer advice and information to all tenants, not just those on the new scheme.

"Our neighbourhood nuisance unit is running successfully and problems can be solved without having to resort to possession proceedings in the majority of cases."

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