In the National Assembly |07 June 2023
PMC intensifies measures against anti-social behaviour in housing estates
The Property Management Corporation isstrengthening its enforcement team to address anti-social behaviours in housing estates to ensure tenants are abiding to their housing agreement.
Minister for Lands and Housing, Billy Rangasamy made the statement yesterday morning when answering a question from elected member of the National Assembly for Mont Fleuri, Michel Roucou, who wanted to know the measures being undertaken to discourage anti-social behaviours in housing estates in the country.
Minister Rangasamy said there are several measures including strengthening the enforcement team, and planning on increasing their monitoring both during day and night times. “They are even planning on conducting unannounced visits to the estates,” said Minister Rangasamy.
Minister Rangasamy said PMC also plans to intensify its collaboration with the police and district authorities for more patrols in the estates.
“We also plan on having a new PMC board comprising members who have the ability to address these anti-social issues, as well as come up with an intensive educational campaign to educate the tenants, including both parents and children in their respective schools on the accepted behaviour in those housing estates,” he said.
According to him, PMC will also be intensifying legal actions against those who do not abide to their agreement, including filing court cases and evicting tenants who are repeated offenders, although this would still remain as their last option.
The minister was accompanied by PMC’s deputy chief executive, Steve Mussard, who informed the National Assembly that PMC’s enforcement team includes five enforcement officers and three legal officers. To ensure follow-ups of all legal cases, PMC has also appointed a new legal officer, who is the liaison person between PMC and the court.
“This means police casesrelated to anti-social behaviour and others like non-payment, would now be handled in a more structured way,”he said, adding that with the new team and legal officer, things are moving faster. “We are seeing the difference and we will be able to take actions more directly,” he stated.
MinisterRangasamy said they are undertaking those measures to ensure the tenants are behaving in a responsible manner towards their houses and their neighbours. The ministry also plans to review the existing laws and modernise them.
There are presently 150 housing estates in the country.
Patsy Canaya