“Respect and understanding helps everyone feel more comfortable,” said a council housing tenant, following news of a national accolade for the borough being more inclusive of LGBTQ+ residents.
Ealing Council’s work to ensure all of its tenants and leaseholders feel safe, respected, and able to enjoy their homes without fear of discrimination has been recognised by Stonewall.
The council initially adopted the charity’s LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge in 2024 – committing to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans residents. The council has now achieved Pledge Pioneer status. This is only given to landlords able to provide robust evidence of having made meaningful changes to the way it supports LGBTQ+ residents.
Councillor Louise Brett is the council’s deputy leader and lead member for safe and genuinely affordable homes. She said: “This recognition is a testament to the values we uphold as a council – fairness, dignity, and inclusion for all. I’m proud of the hard work our housing team and volunteer residents have done to achieve this accreditation. Together, we’re building communities where everyone feels safe, seen, and supported.”
‘Respect and understanding’
Helen Doherty is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a council tenant. She has joined the council’s resident housing forum and the Ealing 100 network, which both play a part in the council’s decision-making process for housing. She said: “Many LGBTQ+ people feel judged or marginalised, and they’re afraid of being seen as different. Respect and understanding helps everyone feel more comfortable. I want to help build a community where everyone feels included – regardless of sexuality, vulnerability, disability, or anything else.”
What is the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge?
The pledge was developed in 2019 in response to the University of Surrey’s No Place Like Home study, which explored the experiences, concerns, and preferences of LGBTQ+ social housing residents.
The research revealed that many LGBTQ+ tenants felt invisible, misunderstood, or unsafe in their housing environments. It highlighted the need for housing providers to take meaningful steps toward inclusivity, representation, and equity.
In response, Stonewall created the Housing Pledge, which calls on housing organisations to actively engage with LGBTQ+ residents and shape policies and practices that promote true inclusivity. By signing up to the pledge last year, the council made a clear and public commitment to improving the experience LGBTQ+ residents have with its housing service.
Specifically, the pledge commits the council to:
- ensuring LGBTQ+ residents have a voice at executive and strategic levels
- increasing LGBTQ+ visibility across its housing services
- providing staff training
Get involved
If you are a council tenant or leaseholder and you would like to find out more about the pledge or get involved in your community, contact the council’s resident engagement team on 020 8825 6535 or email residentinvolvement@ealing.gov.uk.
