I watch my children shrink. Shadows lurk outside. The air reeks of drugs. We cannot stay here.

Aimee Richards, a 23-year-old mother of two young children, is urgently seeking to leave her council flat in Swansea’s Weig Gardens, citing persistent anti-social behaviour that she says makes the environment unsuitable for raising her family. She described disturbing incidents caught on security cameras, including a man in boxer shorts making strange noises near her flat and a woman in a dressing gown repeatedly rummaging through communal bins, contributing to a climate of fear and distress.
Richards also reported that her car’s rear number plate was damaged in March, an act she believes was deliberate. She shares the flat with her partner, Rhys Davey, a delivery driver, and their two children aged nearly three and two. The family frequently endures the smell of cannabis and noise disturbances, which have particularly affected her son, who has expressed fear, saying, “Mammy I’m scared.” Richards emphasized, “The smell of weed is disgusting,” highlighting the impact on her family’s wellbeing.
Despite reaching out to Swansea Council’s housing department, South Wales Police, and the office of Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi, Richards remains on the housing waiting list with no resolution. She revealed that the situation has deteriorated since first contacting the Local Democracy Reporting Service last September, leading to her being prescribed anti-depressants while already managing a back condition, lumbar spondylosis. She is the only parent of young children in her block and has installed netting on her balcony to prevent her son from climbing.
Richards and her partner have lived in the flat for over three years and have attempted to use the HomeSwapper online service to exchange properties, but have found no interested parties. She expressed a desire to move to a three-bedroom house locally, noting she was willing to wait for necessary repairs to be completed on a property she was informed might become available, but no progress has been made. She also reported finding drug needles and human waste in communal areas and revealed that her partner suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder linked to a tragic incident involving another tenant in Weig Gardens.
South Wales Police acknowledged 10 reports of serious issues near Richards’ home over the past two years and warned of the increasing risk to her children witnessing problematic behaviour. The force continues to patrol the area and encourages residents to report criminal activity through proper channels. A 49-year-old man was arrested for indecent exposure related to the boxer shorts incident but was not charged due to insufficient evidence. Similarly, no charges were pursued regarding the damaged number plate.
Swansea Council stated that its housing teams are working with police to address anti-social behaviour and support Richards’ transfer request, awarding her the appropriate housing points. The council’s correspondence with MP Antoniazzi’s office confirmed Richards ranks in the top ten on the waiting list for some areas and has been assigned “housing need” points reflecting her circumstances. The council also acknowledged that other residents in Weig Gardens face similar challenges but recognized the negative impact on Richards’ health. Regarding the reportedly available local house, the council said no housing officer was aware of it, but if it existed, it would have been allocated to the family highest on the waiting list at the time.
This case reflects a broader national issue, as government research shows that 26% of social housing tenants have experienced anti-social behaviour in the past year, with those in social housing 30% more likely to witness or suffer criminal ASB such as drug dealing and intimidation. The problem disproportionately affects working-class families striving for stability and safety, often leading to mental health challenges. Councils and police face difficulties in tackling ASB effectively due to information-sharing barriers and legal constraints, with many victims feeling unsupported despite ongoing efforts.
Recent surveys indicate that 83% of councils strongly support housing providers having full access to community safety partnerships to improve coordination in addressing ASB. However, delays caused by changing personnel and fragmented communication continue to hamper swift action against perpetrators. Housing providers and community safety partners are increasingly urged to collaborate closely to enhance outcomes for residents affected by anti-social behaviour.
The experience of Aimee Richards highlights the urgent need for more effective interventions and support mechanisms to protect vulnerable families in social housing from the lasting effects of anti-social behaviour, ensuring safe and healthy living environments for children and their parents.