We have put together this to guide you through the steps you should take as soon as you experience anything distressing from a housemate or landlord.
This resource will provide you with advice on who to talk to, your legal rights and what organisations there are to help through these stressful times.
We understand that harassment from a landlord, housemate or neighbour can be particularly traumatic for LGBTQ+ people who may have previously experienced discrimination within their home. We also suggest reaching out to support networks and groups, including helplines to help with the mental health impact of harassment.
If it is an emergency or you are in immediate danger, please call 999. Your safety is more important than the collection of evidence.
A short list of these protected characteristics is:
If you have experienced these hate crimes, there are many places that can help.
Stop Hate UK is a charity that will support any people who have experienced a hate crime.
When experiencing harassment of any kind it is a good idea to collect as much evidence as possible.
Any form of communication that has a clear paper trail, such as email, is always a good idea so that it can be used as evidence if the harassment escalates or if legal proceedings are needed. If the harassment is in person audio and visual recordings are recommended – just ensure that you are keeping your safety a priority over the collection of evidence.
As a tenant you should be aware of the rights you have as a tenant. These will likely be outlined in your tenancy agreement, but for any further questions we suggest searching on the Generation Rent website, an excellent resource who we have partnered with to ensure that tenants understand their rights and therefore can fight for them. Some of the common questions and answers they have been:
Many of their answers are in depth and provide a simple step by step instructions. Any questions and you can email them on the email provided.
Shelter England have an excellent resource for Private Landlord harassment, covering everything from the definition of harassment, your tenancy rights, to a letter template and the help that is available to you.
The first step in any case of harassment is getting in contact with the landlord to state the issues and how you would like them resolved. We understand that this can be very stressful, so we advise you take advantage of advocacy and advice services like Citizens Advice who can be contacted if their self-help advice guides haven’t provided the answers you need.
You can also contact Shelter for advice and advocacy if you live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
In some cases, it may be more appropriate to contact a letting agency before your landlord directly as this will increase the likelihood of a recorded paper trail.
If the landlord does not respond appropriately to the initial discussion of the issues it is best to escalate to a third party such as your local council’s Private Rented Housing team or Shelter. They can contact your landlord or letting agent on your behalf to ensure they are following the law, and to challenge them with legal action if they continue to harass you.
If you live in an HMO (house in multiple occupation) you should check if your landlord has registered for an HMO licence with your local council. Licensing gives local councils more control over landlords and means they can ensure landlords are following the law.
Some of the common issues our young people face is:
Firstly, no eviction can take place without the legal support of a bailiff except in specific circumstances. Secondly, attempt contact with your local council, while there may be delays, please keep trying. If you require additional support a Renters Union will also be able to provide this.
If you feel unsafe, you have the legal right to have the locks changed, though it is advisable to keep the old locks to reinstall at the end of your tenancy. Shelter has an excellent template on writing to your landlord to inform them of the criminal offence they are making by illegally evicting you. This should be sent along with copies of your evidence. There are penalties for illegal eviction, and you may be able to acquire some compensation.
If you are within the London area you can check whether a landlord or letting agents have been prosecuted or fined with the London Gov’s Rogue Landlord Checker.
If your landlord is a housing association, local authority or housing provider and is registered with the Housing Ombudsman then you can escalate the complaint to them. This is easily done through their website, where they will show you the steps of how to process a complaint and what should happen next. The more evidence you provide with this complaint the more the Ombudsman can do.
If you are experiencing harassment from another tenant, then the process is very similar. Ensure that you are gathering as much evidence as possible and that your landlord/letting agent is aware of the situation.
For more guidance we suggest looking at Housing Advice NI’s page on harassment from housemates, although legal advice may differ depending where in the UK you reside.
If you are unsure, please visit the Shelter website and click on the country applicable.
If you have experienced emotional or physical distress as a result of harassment you may be entitled to legal action against the perpetrator. The Law Centres Network may be able to advise whether or not you have a case, and if not, they can help guide you through the legal proceedings of harassment.
Other organisations and groups who can offer advocacy include Acorn the Union, Justice for Tenants and Flat Justice CIC.
Young LGBTQ+ people who are homeless are often faced with many challenges in securing housing or accommodation which meets their needs. We work with many young people who have disabilities, and we aim to provide support and advice to those young people in searching for and securing housing which is safe and accessible.
At akt, we understand that viewing and signing for a new tenancy can be both exciting and nerve-racking. In this guide, we have included a few tips and important steps to think about in preparation for your new home.
The asylum system can be very difficult to navigate, and it can be tricky to know what support you are eligible for. We have put together this resource for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, to signpost you to specialist organisations who may be able to help.
