Equality & Diversity Policy

Housing Placements is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and preventing discrimination in all aspects of our operations. We will not discriminate against any person on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination on the basis of the following characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin)
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

As a temporary accommodation provider working with local authorities, we are committed to ensuring that all households referred to us are treated equally and without discrimination. We will not refuse a placement on the grounds of any protected characteristic, and we will ensure that all properties in our portfolio are accessible and suitable for the households placed in them.

Local authorities have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty to ensure that their housing services do not discriminate. As an approved provider, we support our local authority clients in meeting these duties.

We require all landlords whose properties are managed by Housing Placements to comply with the Equality Act 2010. It is unlawful for a landlord to refuse to let a property to a person on the grounds of any protected characteristic. Any landlord found to be discriminating will have their property removed from our portfolio.

We are committed to equal opportunities in employment. We will not discriminate in recruitment, selection, training, promotion, or any other employment decision on the grounds of any protected characteristic. All employees are entitled to work in an environment free from harassment and bullying.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in accessing our services or in their employment with us. If you require any adjustments to access our services, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

When making placements, we work with local authority housing teams to ensure that accommodation is suitable for the specific needs of each household. This includes considering accessibility requirements for disabled household members, proximity to schools and support networks, and any other specific needs identified in the household's Personalised Housing Plan.

Any person who believes they have been discriminated against by Housing Placements should raise a complaint using our Complaints Procedure. We will investigate all complaints of discrimination promptly and thoroughly. Employees who raise concerns about discrimination in good faith will be protected from victimisation.

This policy is reviewed annually by the senior management of Essex & London Property Management Group Limited. We will monitor our performance against this policy and take action to address any areas where we are falling short of our commitments.

Questions about this policy should be directed to: Essex & London Property Management Group Limited, 11 Station Road, Harold Wood, Romford, RM3 0BP. Telephone: 0208 419 8865.