Letter of Complaint - Equality Act

An individual living in Great Britain can use this letter to formally complain that they have been subjected to behaviour which is contrary to equality laws. Specifically, the letter can be used to raise a complaint about:

• discrimination; and/or
• harassment; and/or
• victimisation.

It is possible to read more about what constitutes discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the government website, the Equality and Human Rights Commission website and the Citizens Advice webiste.

The letter may be used to complain to a body or organisation where the conduct has taken place in any of the following settings:

• Employment
• Education (for example at a school or university)
• An association*
• During the provision of goods, facilities or services to a member of the public (for example, charities, shops, restaurants and healthcare)
• Housing (for example landlords or estate agents)
• Public functions*

To be covered under equality laws, an association must have at least 25 members. Admission to membership of the association must involve a selection process and be regulated by the rules of the association.

The exercise of public functions refers to the situation where a public authority is acting under a statutory power or duty (i.e. carried out on behalf of the state). This could include law enforcement agencies or HMRC, for example.

This letter may be used to raise a formal complaint with the relevant organisation or body and to request an investigation and resolution. The sender should always be mindful of:

• Any exclusions or exemptions* that might apply to their particular complaint; and
• Any formal grievance processes which should be followed in the making of a complaint; and
• The strict time limits involved in instigating any future court proceedings.

Some certain exclusions and exemptions apply in specific cases. For example, discrimination can be justified in certain circumstances. Another example exists in housing cases, where certain exclusions apply.

How to use this document

This document should be completed with all of the relevant information about the complaint. The letter should then be sent to the organisation or body. The letter can be sent via post, email or both.

The sender should wait for a response from the recipient within the specified timeframe, to see whether their complaint is upheld and whether an appropriate solution is offered. The sender should make sure they consider any time limits whilst waiting for the recipient to resolve the matter.

Relevant law

The main legal provision that governs the issues raised in this letter is the Equality Act 2010.

Help from a lawyer

You can choose to consult a lawyer if you need help.

The lawyer can answer your questions or help you through the process. You will be offered this option when you complete the document.

How to modify the template

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.