WE often hear about anti-social tenants and how it must be made easier for landlords to evict those making their neighbours a lives a misery.

While these efforts to ensure people can live in peace are necessary and should be supported, there is another aspect of housing law that must be given equal weight.

Private landlords who feel they can evict tenants without going through the proper procedures or without any legally acceptable reason, must also be made to feel the full force of the law.

Tenants have rights, whether they are in social housing or private housing, which means landlords have responsibilities they must take seriously.

Just as most tenants are responsible, so are most landlords, but some feel they can end a tenancy without the proper notice period, and use intimidation to get someone out of their home.

If a tenant is in breach of the tenancy agreement there are legal procedures to follow to secure the property, otherwise the agreement must be kept to by both parties.

The advice to tenants from Shelter and the police is valuable ... Know your rights!