A councillor is calling for a change in legislation that would mean anti-social tenants having their housing benefit taken away from them.
Independent Levenmouth councillor Andrew Rodger said he knew of too many good families in the area whose lives were being made a misery by anti-social behaviour from neighbours.
The Courier this week reported how a vulnerable homeless woman had questioned Fife Council’s housing allocation policy after she and her teenage daughter were placed in a ”totally inappropriate” housing scheme which they claim is riddled with drugs and anti-social behaviour problems.
The woman said she had been ”duped” by Fife Council into accepting a property in what she perceives to be a bad area of East Wemyss.
The council said it helps tenants as far as it can.
As several East Wemyss residents disputed the woman’s portrayal of the Barony as a bad area, Mr Rodger said he was aware of other families in Levenmouth who had had similar problems.
He said: ”I do feel for people who feel they have been put in a position where they don’t fit in to an area. But the demands on housing have got to be put into context. There are 2000 people fighting over 60 houses in Levenmouth, and 50% of our housing has to go to homeless people under legislation.
”But here’s the controversial bit. I have spoken to managers about housing and we really need to be on top of anti-social behaviour.
”The police have been good and have done a few drugs raids in the Levenmouth area. What I am saying loud and clear is I would like to see legislation so that if people are anti-social they have their housing benefit stopped.
”There are data protection issues, but the council should be able to warn tenants about the presence of anti-social neighbours before offering a house.”