Landlords accused of victim neglect

The report, by charity Victim Support, complained local authority housing-related help for victims of crime varies widely, and delays and inappropriate offers of accommodation are commonplace.

It cited the experience of the family of Heidi Hickmott, who was murdered by her boyfriend outside her family home in 1997. Her relatives asked to be rehoused following the ordeal. But their landlord, Ashford council, offered the family a property that backed onto the house of the killer’s family.

“The report has highlighted a lot of important issues,” Chartered Institute of Housing policy head David Fotheringham told Housing Today.

“If you try to move as a victim of crime, it may be a while before suitable accommodation can be found.”

It is these delays that are causing the victims of crime distress and hardship, Victim Support said.

The charity called for a number of policy improvements, including minimum levels of secure and safe accommodation, to be provided by landlords. It also urged the appointment of a commissioner to coordinate policy and thinking on the issue.

“A commissioner is a good idea – he would be a champion for victims of crime,” Fotheringham said. “There are areas where housing has improved recently, such as the work to combat racial harassment, but generally social landlords tend to take a narrow view of what constitutes housing need.”

The report also called for the provision of home contents insurance as part of tenants’ rent, and for legislation to be drafted to enforce better standards.

It added that people who receive income support and win an award from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme do not gain, as their benefits are stopped until the award money has been spent. There were almost 14m crimes committed in England and Wales in 2000, with a high proportion of these occurring in people’s homes.