A mum who was attacked by her ex-partner on her doorstep claims her housing association did 'nothing' to ensure her safety for more than nine months afterwards. 

Sarah*, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said she was given contradictory advice by Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) after it withdrew its original offer to provide her with a security doorbell at her flat in Richmond.

The 32-year-old mum told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) she was "shocked to see how awful" MTVH's response was to her case, despite its seriousness, and feels she has endured an uphill battle against the housing association since the assault in April last year.

She said in mid-January the housing association had not moved her, properly checked the safety of her flat or installed a Ring doorbell.

MTVH told the LDRS in February it has now installed a security doorbell at Sarah's flat.

It said it has given her priority status to be moved into a new home and assigned her to a domestic abuse specialist. 

It added it has kept in regular contact with her since the assault and prioritised giving her back a sense of security.

Sarah in her flat in Richmond. (Photo Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

Sarah was attacked by her ex-partner at the front door of her flat, where she lives with her children, in April last year. 

He was later convicted of assault by beating at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

The CCTV in the apartment block was broken at the time of the incident which, Sarah said, meant she did not have footage to show the police he had attended the property.

The mum reported the incident to MTVH shortly afterwards and raised concerns about the lack of CCTV.

The housing association told her the CCTV would only capture the block's communal entrance and car park and it could buy her a Ring doorbell to "provide some extra security".

However, it informed her in early May it had withdrawn the offer of a Ring doorbell after fixing the CCTV.

Sarah said: "Even a Ring doorbell would just make me feel that little bit safer.

"And it wouldn't have been a lot for them. 

"It's just bizarre that they'll just totally dismiss it by saying, yeah, you can have it at first and then now they're like actually, no, you can't.

"So it's sort of picking you up and dropping you."

Sarah completed a safeguarding referral assessment with MTVH in May but claimed it took until September for the housing association to send the final referral off.

She claimed to the LDRS in mid-January she had not heard from the housing association since.

"They've done nothing to make sure that I'm safe in my property," she said. 

"To this point, I haven't had anybody come and check that my property is safe. I don't have a Ring doorbell. I don't have a panic alarm… it's been awful."

Sarah was ruled a high risk victim of domestic abuse. (Photo Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon).

Sarah was ruled a high-risk victim of domestic abuse at Richmond's multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) in July.

A letter from the Met Police on the outcome of the meeting, seen by the LDRS, said it allows information to be shared on the "highest risk cases of domestic abuse, those at risk of serious harm or homicide" and Sarah's case had been deemed "one of high risk".

Sarah said she sent MTVH the letter after she received it in late July.

She told the LDRS: "You're at high risk because you're at risk of a DHR [domestic homicide review], basically being murdered, that's what it's for.

"So they know that he's an offender, they know that he's got a history… so they've proactively done nothing to avoid that happening."

The mum described her shock at having to chase MTVH for updates and not seeing any progress. 

She said: "There's so many people that you have to chase and all the responsibility sits on you where it's not really my job.

"I didn't ask to be assaulted by my ex-partner, and the safeguarding should fit in other professionals' hands and not mine. 

"So not only are you going through that trauma and I'm worried about my own safety, but I'm having to fight against people to make myself feel safe."

An MTVH spokesperson said: "Last year our resident suffered a hugely distressing experience on their doorstep which left them profoundly upset and fearful.

"As the resident's housing provider, it has been our priority to do whatever we can to provide help and assistance and give a sense of security back to this resident.

"Following the incident we replaced the CCTV at Maple House, and a new security doorbell has been installed at the resident's property."

They added: "We continue to invest in a range of measures to maintain the safety and security of the surrounding area and will undertake repairs whenever they are reported.

"We have maintained regular contact with our resident to understand how we can assist and have assigned a dedicated domestic abuse specialist to provide one-to-one support.

"This traumatic event has had a deep impact and following our resident's request to be rehoused we have raised their priority status for a new home.

"Despite an excess demand for housing in the borough, we will continue to work hard on their behalf to find a suitable new home."