TENANTS who make their neighbours' lives a misery with their anti-social behaviour are being warned that they could face eviction.

Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT), which took over the management of former council homes in March, has pledged to tackle all forms of anti-social behaviour including nuisance, harassment and racial abuse.

"We are committed to improving not just our properties, but also the environment around our tenants' homes. We understand that tackling anti-social behaviour effectively is crucial to our customers and the communities in which they live," explained Tony Lowry, the trust's operations director.

"We care about our tenants and consider the needs of all sections of the community. We are determined to tackle those who deal in the misery anti-social behaviour and crime cause.

"While eviction will be a last resort, we are prepared to follow it through if we find that all our other efforts to stop anti-social behaviour fail. We will stand firm in dealing with this issue," he added.

The trust is developing a strategy for tackling anti-social behaviour and will be working in partnership with tenants, police, Bromsgrove Community Safety Partnership and other agencies.

While persistent offenders will face eviction, the trust will use anti-social behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts to try to improve unsatisfactory behaviour.

It may also arrange independent mediation to resolve neighbour disputes.

The trust has begun consulting tenants to find out their views on the trust's current handling of anti-social behaviour issues.

Marie Green, tenant services manager for the trust, explained: "It is important that tenants are involved as we develop this strategy. Our emphasis has to be on encouraging people to modify their behaviour if it is causing distress to other tenants.

"We want to send a clear message to tenants who are persistently involved in anti-social behaviour but also want our tenants to understand the service they can expect when they contact the trust with a problem."

The trust will launch the new strategy in the New Year.