Yesterday was international women’s day. Here is a classic example of institutional discrimination.
My son and I have come to Cambridge for a few days and are staying in one of the Colleges. The accommodations was booked and paid for by me and my son is clearly shown as ‘guest’ on the booking form.
However, his name was written on all the booking paperwork prepared by the college (female!) staff including on BOTH key folders!
I was not cross about it but it did prompt a wry smile. Particularly as it was International Women’s day.
But enough of that – what happened on the blog last week?
Monday
David Smith from Anthony Gold Solicitors writes about the implication of this decision
Tuesday
Freelance Enforcement Officer, Ben Reeve Lewis gives his view on the wake of the Right to Rent challenge
Wednesday
The Landlord Law Conference Talks – the Year in Review #lllconf
The first in a short series looking at what’s on offer at this year’s Landlord Law Conference
Thursday
Does this landlord have any recourse against his anti-social protected tenant?
A landlord used my ‘Blog Clinic Fast Track Service‘ to get his question answered quickly
Friday
More highlights from the housing news this week
The Landlord Law News Blog
Further Reading
- Landlords fear that human habitation act may drive vexatious court claims
- Labour would force UK landlords to offer indefinite tenancies
- Patrick Collinson in the Guardian has some thoughts about taxing the rich
- A useful roundup from Nearly Legal of things to respond to
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I had a current account with the Co-op Bank from the age of 17. My salary was paid in. It was my account. My name was on the cheques.
Some years later, I asked to have my partner added to the account. Guess who’s name went first? And the names on the cheques were ‘Mr John Smithy and Mrs Jane Smithy’.
He rang to ask about this and was told that we needed to write to them and ask for it to be changed. In my view, it should never have been that way in the first place. Needless to say, I left the Co-op.
I applied by phone to open an account with First Direct. Explained that it was primarily my account – my salary going in etc and he was the second name (yes – joint account – I know that). Paperwork came through for signature – addressed to Mr … and Mrs … So I threw it away. A few days later the phone rang and a voice asked to speak to Mr Smithy. He was out so I asked who was calling – it was First Direct and they wanted to speak to him not me. I signed up with Santander.
Our portfolio of houses is owned in joint names. However, I do all the running of the portfolio and have all the contact with the Housing Benefit dept of the Council. My name alone is on the Tenancy Agreements.
When the first notification came through about HB payments – it was addressed to Mr Smithy. We’re not even sure where they got his name from. Unless it was the Council Tax on our PPR.
Thanks, Smithy. This must happen A LOT. We all tend to put up with it. Maybe we should start making more of a fuss.
If you want to discuss institutional sexism at Cambridge, you should note that the only remaining women only colleges in the UK are all in Cambridge – three of them.