Equal opportunities in housing policy

1. Statement of Intent

1.1 It is the Council's aim to ensure that no applicant for accommodation or housing services is treated less favourably than others because of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age.

1.2 The Council will tackle the following forms of discrimination where they arise in relation to the provision of housing services:

  • direct discrimination - when a person is treated less favourably than others

  • indirect discrimination - when a requirement or condition is applied which, whether intentionally or not, adversely affects people of a particular group in gaining access to, or retaining, housing services

  • victimisation - when a person is treated less favourably than others because that person has made a complaint or allegation of discrimination or harassment

  • institutional discrimination - where an organisation collectively fails to provide an appropriate and professional service to a group of people because of such things as their sex, race or disability.

1.3 The Council believes that no-one should live in fear of harassment or violence which is perpetrated because of a person's race, colour, nationality, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age, and will counter all forms of harassment and violence in its housing.

1.4 The Council recognises the need to ensure that housing services are available to all members of the community according to the priority of their housing needs.

1.5 In order to meet its objective of ensuring equal opportunity in the provision of housing services, the Council will strive to ensure that all members of the workforce are aware of the Council's equal opportunities policy and their responsibilities under it. To this end the Council is committed to provide equal opportunities in employment.

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2. Detail

Access to housing services

2.1 The Council will strive to ensure that its policies and procedures for allocating accommodation and other housing services do not discriminate against particular groups or individuals on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. In particular, the Council will ensure that no individual or group is placed at a disadvantage, unjustifiably, by requirements or conditions that have a disproportionately adverse effect on that individual or group. In order to meet this commitment, the Council will regularly consult organisations representing a range of groups within the community about the content and application of housing policies.

2.2 The Council will seek to ensure that application forms, leaflets and other information sources relating to the provision of accommodation and other housing services are accessible to all members of the community. Particular attention will be given to the need for written translations, large type, audio-tape, interpreters and home-visits.

Tackling harassment and violence and any other form of hate crime

2.3 The Council, and Housing Services, will continue to comply with the CRE Code of Practice in Rented Housing 1991.

2.4 Any officer of the Council receiving a complaint of harassment or violence shall accept the account of the person affected in a sympathetic and supportive manner, and shall assist that person in recording his or her complaint and commencing proceedings under the Council's procedure for countering harassment.

2.5 The Council will counter harassment in all its forms in its housing by:

(i) Seeking to identify incidents that occur.

(ii) Recording incidents as they occur, in accordance with set procedure, ensuring that the cause and nature of the incident is identified and using the corporate record of initial complaint. In particular incidents of harassment and violence perpetrated because of the race, gender, sexual orientation or disability of the person affected shall be separately recorded and monitored.

(iii) Providing a rapid and effective support service to victims of harassment, taking action against perpetrators, and wherever possible, attempting to prevent further incidents. This shall include (but is not limited to) the following:

(a) ensuring that the person affected is interviewed as soon as possible, and at most within 48 hours of the incident being reported

(b) interviewing the alleged perpetrator (and/or parents), and issuing warning letters in accordance with Council procedure

(c) carrying out emergency repairs, and/or removing graffiti as soon as possible, and at most within 24 hours of the incident being reported

(d) interviewing any witnesses who have been identified

(e) agreeing on an appropriate course of action, in consultation with the person affected and the Council's legal department. This may include court action to prevent further incidents and/or proceedings for the eviction of the perpetrator

(f) informing and liaising with the appropriate agencies, with the permission of the person affected

(g) reviewing the need for transfer of the person affected

(h) keeping the person affected informed about any action proposed or taken.

Staff training

2.6 All staff will receive training and guidance on the content of this policy, and their responsibilities in implementing the Council's commitment to equal opportunities.

Working with contractors

2.7 The Council aims to encourage contractors and consultants to adopt equal opportunities policies and practices, and will monitor the progress of business partners involved in the provision of housing services. Performance against equal opportunities targets will be considered when new contracts are awarded.

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3. Further Information

3.1 Woking Borough Council's policies apply to all services within the Council:

4. Targets / Standards

4.1 Monitoring of the implementation of the Council's policy and procedures of equal opportunities in Housing Services is undertaken by the Housing Services Manager through the Housing Equalities group and the Corporate Equalities group.

4.2 Housing Services will work with the Corporate Equalities group towards achieving Level 3 Equality Standard for Local Government by March 2009, then monitoring the standard thereafter.

4.3 The Council will monitor the effects of its equal opportunities, and will use the information gathered to develop and review strategies for tackling discrimination and harassment.

4.4 The Council will monitor the effects of its housing policies upon applicants for housing, and those gaining access to housing services, looking in particular at the following:

  • ethnic background

  • age

  • gender

  • religion

  • disability

  • belief

  • sexual orientation.

Date approved: 18 September 1995

Date updated: April 2008