A NEW scheme designed to root out nuisance council house tenants throughout Ramsbottom and Bury is being launched later this month.

The first Introductory Tenancy Scheme will come into effect on Monday, December 22, just in time to flush out nuisance neighbours in time for Christmas.

The new tenancy agreements, which will only apply to new tenants, are designed to make it easier for the council to tackle nuisance behaviour and rent arrears. Under the scheme, new tenants have a year's probation in which to prove they are good payers and good neighbours.

If the tenancy is successful the tenant will automatically become secure at the end of it.

However, if a tenant breaks any of the tenancy conditions it will be much easier for the council to evict them than at present.

Before the scheme, councils had to obtain a court order to remove nuisance tenants. Now the council can serve their own legal notice on them.

They can then ask the court for an eviction date and a judge cannot refuse to give a date for eviction as long as the legal notice has been served correctly.

Councillor Tim Chamberlain, Bury Council's executive member for regeneration and housing, said: "This will be a useful tool in helping us to tackle anti-social behaviour. Evidence from other local authorities is that using introductory tenancies helps to promote a strong anti-nuisance message.

"Witnesses feel more secure in providing evidence as the courts are unable to refuse a request for eviction should the case proceed that far.

"Reports also suggest that tenants are more aware of their responsibilities to the community they live in."