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Bodies managing a council’s housing would be able to issue antisocial behaviour orders on their behalf, under new government proposals.

The government said that the plans, contained in an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consultation, aimed to help councils respond to the needs of their communities in a way that fitted with local circumstances.

“These proposals will help councils make local decisions about the best way to tackle the anti-social activities of an irresponsible minority who, if left unchallenged, can wreck the lives of tenants and the wider community,” said housing minister Yvette Cooper.

She added that giving housing management bodies the power to issue anti-social-behaviour orders would help to ensure that frontline professionals had access to the powers that they needed.

Cooper went on to stress that the government recognised that ASBOs were “powerful tools” that needed to be used appropriately.

“To ensure their proper use our proposals for ASBOs include a number of safeguards which will maintain accountability and rigour when protecting communities from unacceptable behaviour,” she concluded.

The consultation closes on 1 February.

Enabling local authorities to contract their Anti-social Behaviour Order functions to organisations managing their housing stock from: www.odpm.gov.uk