THE worst roads in Southend will be targeted in a “street blitz” on rogue landlords and nightmare neighbours.

Volunteers will photograph streets plagued by dumped furniture and rubbish and hand out questionnaires to identify issues.

Homeowners, landlords and tenants who refuse to stop making neighbours’ lives a misery could face prosecution.

Judith Codarin, secretary of the South East Alliance of Landlords, Agents and Residents (Seal), which plans to carry out the crackdown this spring, said: “Now is the time to show how Seal can have a positive impact not only on tenant’s and their neighbours’ lives, but also on the street scene.

“The street blitz is intended to get people working together to inform residents, whether owners or tenants, on some of the old and new techniques on managing property, and give them confidence to use them to improve their environment, reduce anti-social behaviour, raise the standards of rental accommodation and improve the street scene.”

The body, which after its first year already represents half of all rented properties in Southend, is looking for volunteers to help members survey problem streets identified by residents, Southend Council, the police and local charities.

Information gathered could lead to enforcement action against rental properties or bedsits failing to meet minimum standards.

Families will be given advice on what police regard as anti-social behaviour and Southend’s rubbish collection service.

Owners or occupiers who ignore advice on dumping furniture or rubbish in their front garden, spoiling the street scene for others, could face prosecution.

Mrs Codarin, who owns a number of rental properties across the town, said: “Seal wishes to proactively encourage a change to poorly managed properties, encourage responsible tenancies and improve the local environment.

“Through the first year members have been working out how to operate, developing their Seal Code of Conduct and various innovative ways to better management of rental property.”

Martin Terry, the council’s representative on Seal’s board, said: “We are trying to improve standards in those areas by including tenants and landlords and gathering intelligence on streets where there are a lot of rented properties.”

The street blitz is expected to take place between Easter and May.

To get involved visit www.southendwatch.org.uk or call 01702 464199.