NEW council house tenants in Hyndburn could be put "on probation" for 12 months and anti-social families shown the door.

A report on the pros and cons of adopting an introductory tenancy scheme will be considered by the housing services committee tomorrow night.

Under the scheme all new tenants in council houses and flats would be on 12 months probation, making it easier for the authority to evict them if they breach any conditions of tenancy, whether related to nuisance or not.

In Hyndburn the scheme would affect around 600 new tenants each year for the first year of their tenancy and cover all aspects, including payment of rent.

If a tenancy is conducted satisfactorily it automatically becomes secure after 12 months. If an introductory tenant breaches conditions, special procedures must be applied and a court must grant possession, provided the council has correctly followed all the procedures.

With secure tenants, the court has discretion on the orders it grants.

A report to councillors points out that while aimed at combating anti-social behaviour, the regime reduces the rights of new tenants and would need close monitoring.

Adopting the scheme is likely to raise all tenants' expectations about the council's policing powers but investigation and evidence are still required to take action.

Strict rules on evidence collection, formal warnings, record keeping and sticking to timescales would increase the administrative workload on staff and internal costs, including paying for review panels.

Officers are recommending a more detailed report be presented to the next meeting before councillors make a decision.

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