PRESS ASSOCIATION - Councils will find it easier to evict "neighbours from hell" under new plans unveiled by the Government.
The process of kicking out nuisance tenants can become long and costly as cases trundle through courts.
But housing minister Grant Shapps wants a simplified system to help deal with anti-social behaviour blighting communities.
He said: "All too often, efforts to tackle neighbours from hell take far too long, and it seems the needs and rights of the victims play second fiddle to those of the perpetrators.
"That's why I'm looking to speed up the process, so where a social housing tenant already has a conviction for anti-social behaviour and the situation has not improved this can be taken into account and landlords can act swiftly to bring an end to the day-to-day misery that is inflicted for too long on those simply seeking to quietly enjoy their homes.
"Of course eviction is a drastic step and should be the last resort that landlords take to tackle this menace - but when all other options have failed to stop this yobbish behaviour, victims should not have to wait months or even years to see justice done."
The Department for Local Government and Communities estimates complex eviction cases cost up to £20,000 and take on average seven months, with up to 3,000 eviction notices served annually. But these plans to cut costs and delays will mean councils will not have to show new evidence of anti-social behaviour, with tenants' past conduct taken into account.
Victims campaigner Baroness (Helen) Newlove, whose husband Garry was killed in 2007 after confronting a gang of drunken youths who were vandalising his wife's car, welcomed the latest proposals, which have been put out for public consultation.
Baroness Newlove, the Government's champion for active safer communities, said: "My postbag is filled with heartbreaking stories of law-abiding families whose lives are made a living hell by the actions of a few uncaring, selfish individuals whose thoughtlessness or ruthless criminal actions blight and intimidate whole neighbourhoods."
She added: "This action will go a long way to redress the balance in their favour."