Elderly residents have said a public housing flat has been used as a brothel and shared their fears of a tragedy if an allegedly violent Weston Creek tenant is not evicted.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man has allegedly offered a woman half his age as a prostitute to other tenants.
"[The man] is using his flat as a brothel, using the girl, [who] is addicted to drugs," one neighbour said.
"It's a disgrace, there is not respect to us neighbours here."
The repeated calls for Housing ACT to act came a month after separate reported threats of violence and drug use by the man at the complex.
A letter from one elderly neighbour last week said he was punched in the chin by the troublesome tenant after a refusal to provide a lift to hospital.
The neighbour said police discouraged him from making a statement due to the tenant's mental illness, and advised him to take out a restraining order.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman said the investigation into that assault had been finalised as no formal complaint was received.
"ACT Policing has received no complaint in relation to allegations of a brothel being run from the premises or of drug dealing at the location," she said.
A neighbour said at least one tenant had expressed an interest in the sexual services offered, but had been unable to agree on a price.
A Community Services Directorate spokesman said Housing ACT continued to monitor the situation closely and work with police.
"Housing ACT does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour from any of our tenants and where there is evidence that agreed standards of behaviour have been breached we will take appropriate action," he said.
One female tenant said the man was a "standover merchant".
"If police do not remove [him], there is going to be a tragedy here," she said.
Members of the police's crime reduction team met residents on October 14 to speak about the police's role and gave information about personal safety, home safety, bullying and precautions.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed the increased targeted patrols in the area, subject to resources and priorities, remained.
"If a criminal offence has been committed or there is a disturbance of the peace, ACT Policing will respond and take appropriate action as required, regardless of whether a person has a mental illness or not," she said.
It is unclear what concrete actions, if any, Housing ACT has taken to reprimand the tenant.
"We are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of all our tenants and also to our responsibility of helping tenants maintain their tenancies," the spokesman said.
The standard terms of an ACT tenancy agreement, including for public housing, forbid the tenant from using the premises, or allowing them to be used, for an illegal purpose.
