Types of Harassment

Someone may be harassed for a number of reasons, for example because of their sexuality, sex, race, disability, religious belief or age. Harassment takes many forms, including violence, threats, abuse, and damage to property. It can involve verbal abuse and name calling, offensive graffiti or post. It may cause physical injury, mental stress, anxiety, or insecurity.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment may involve physical assault, verbal abuse or threats, damage to property or continual and unwanted sexual advances. It may come from someone you know, a partner or ex-partner, or from a stranger.

Report any case of sexual harassment to your housing officer, particularly if there has been violence or you feel at risk from possible violence. You can ask to speak to a housing officer of the same sex, or a black woman/male housing officer if you wish.

Racial harassment

Racial harassment is hostility towards people because of their colour or ethnic origin. It includes physical assault, verbal abuse and name calling, threats, damage to property, racist graffiti, racist letters or posters.

Don't confuse racial harassment with quarrels with neighbours. Report any racial harassment to your housing officer as soon as possible. You can speak to a black housing officer if you wish.

Harassment because of religious belief

Our tenants are of many cultures and faiths. All tenants must feel free to follow the faith they choose without being harassed.

Harassment of people with AIDS or who are HIV positive

Some of our tenants have AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) or have been told they are HIV positive (that is, they may develop AIDS or illnesses associated with AIDS at some time). In both cases they are not a health risk to any other person except through direct sexual contact.

We treat tenants who have AIDS as disabled. Harassment of people who are HIV positive or have AIDS is unacceptable. We employ a liaison officer to advise those with AIDS or who are HIV positive.

Harassment of the elderly

Many of our tenants are elderly. They make a valuable contribution to the community. The elderly often live alone and can easily be made to feel insecure.

Harassment of the physically or mentally disabled

People who are disabled have every right to be treated in exactly the same way as all other tenants. Many of these tenants are classed as 'vulnerable' in housing law and we have a duty to protect their interests.

Harassment of lesbians or gay men

Lesbian and gay tenants have the same rights to live free from harassment as other tenants. Harassment of lesbian and gay tenants because of their sexuality is not acceptable. 

Harassment of those living with you

Under your tenancy conditions you must not harass any person with a right to live in your home so as to make them leave the property or look for somewhere else to live. If you are violent, or threaten violence, towards your partner and they have to leave the home, we will go to court to evict you.

We will encourage any victim of domestic violence to report the matter to the police, their investigation may lead to prosecution.

Harassment of staff or our representatives

You or members of your household or visitors invited to you home must not threaten violence or be violent towards council staff or our representatives. We will apply to the court for an injunction and ultimately we may evict you.

Homelessness and harassment

If you apply to us as homeless because of harassment, we may ask you to give up your tenancy. However, we will not be able to guarantee that you will get a new tenancy and in most cases will provide temporary accommodation only for a limited period. If you think you may be in danger in your home, contact your housing officer. Outside of office hours ring the emergency service at the Town Hall (see Useful Contacts for the telephone number) and ask to speak to a homeless person's officer.

If you have to leave your property because your partner has been violent towards you, or has threatened you with violence, we can go to court to evict your partner.

Neighbour disagreements

Arguments between neighbours often start from small things, but then get out of hand by running on for a long time and becoming serious. Report arguments which involve harassment or nuisance to your housing office. There is a Lambeth Mediation Service (not run by the Council) which may help with day-to-day arguments and disagreements. Contact them through your housing officer or see the Useful Contacts for the phone number. Ideally both sides of the dispute must agree to take part in the mediation.