Senior Top End woman shares worries of public housing block after new neighbour moves in

An elderly Top End public housing resident is seeking to evict her neighbour from his unit, after concerns over his alleged behaviour – but the department says that would be a ‘last resort’. Here’s why.

The residents of a Top End public housing block are attempting to expel a new neighbour over purported concerns about his behaviour.

A senior Territorian said she occupies one of six units in the complex, but a new resident on the public housing block had stirred the quiet community.

She claimed the man’s arrival has led to an increase in visitors to the housing complex early in the morning, and alleged some visitors had disregarded parking signs.

The woman – who requested her name is not published – said she had reported to Housing officials, but no further action had been taken.

She said she hoped to see him evicted from the complex.

A Territory Families, Housing, and Communities spokesperson said this approach was a “last resort” but reiterated the safety of residents would always be a top priority.

A Top End public housing resident wants the department to evict her new male neighbour.

The woman alleged she had previously approached her new neighbour to address her concerns, and on one occasion and he reacted forcefully.

“I couldn’t even get a word in, they were saying ‘We know that you’ve been taking number plates and you’ve been to the police’ and I couldn’t even say that’s right or wasn’t right,” she said.

“I came home and I walked in the front door and honestly, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

A TFHC spokesperson said the department took safety concerns from public housing tenants “very seriously”.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home,” they said.

“Antisocial behaviour caused by public housing tenants is not tolerated and we have a Red Card policy to address this.”

The spokesperson said Public Housing Safety Officers visited the woman’s unit complex to speak with tenants about their concerns and how to report them.

“Not all tenants were home, but no additional concerns were raised during the visits,” they said.