Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

DIFF Podcast Highlights Economic Abuse in UK Property Sector

The latest episode of the Diversity and Inclusivity Finance Forum (DIFF) podcast, part of the Invisible Differences series, focused on economic abuse and its implications for the UK property sector. The discussion featured Bharat Sagar as host, with guests Andrew Calder of Accord Mortgages and Claire Towe, co-founder of Meet Margo.

Calder defined economic abuse as a form of controlling or coercive behaviour where access to money, financial independence, or resources is restricted or manipulated. He stated that economic abuse is recognised as a distinct form of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Calder also referenced figures indicating that over 4.2 million women have experienced economic abuse in the past year, with approximately 750,000 women affected within joint mortgages.

Calder outlined three main forms of economic abuse: restriction (limiting access to money or financial tools, such as changing bank account passwords), exploitation (using someone’s finances for personal gain, including building debts in the victim-survivor’s name), and sabotage (undermining financial stability, such as refusing to cooperate with shared financial obligations). He noted that these behaviours often occur in combination and can escalate from seemingly normal household arrangements.

Towe discussed Meet Margo’s work supporting women with homeownership and financial resilience. She described a recent case involving a victim-survivor, referred to as Jenny, whose partner refused to remortgage their jointly held property and threatened to “financially ruin” her. Jenny wanted to buy out her ex-partner, but he refused to sell his share, forcing her to seek a consent order. Towe explained that Meet Margo reached out to Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) in 2024 to improve support for clients facing economic abuse.

The podcast highlighted the importance of recognising economic abuse and understanding its impact on property ownership and financial arrangements. This is particularly relevant for letting agents and inventory clerks who may encounter clients affected by such issues in the course of their work.