Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for House Clearance Lewisham

House Clearance Lewisham is committed to conducting all aspects of its operations in an ethical, transparent and responsible manner. This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement sets out the steps we take to prevent modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking within our own operations and throughout our supply chains.

We recognise that modern slavery is a severe violation of fundamental human rights. As a local service provider working with suppliers, subcontractors and other business partners, we understand our responsibility to identify, prevent and address any risks related to modern slavery, however remote they may appear.

Our zero-tolerance policy on modern slavery

House Clearance Lewisham has a clear zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. We will not knowingly engage with, or support, any organisation that is involved in these practices. This commitment applies to all aspects of our business, including recruitment, procurement, subcontracting and day-to-day operations.

All employees, directors and individuals working on behalf of House Clearance Lewisham are expected to act with integrity and in accordance with our ethical standards. Any breach of this policy by an employee may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. Any breach by a supplier or contractor may result in the termination of our relationship with them.

Suppliers, subcontractors and audit activities

We expect our suppliers, subcontractors and other business partners to share our commitment to preventing modern slavery. When engaging new suppliers, we consider their labour practices, working conditions and ethical standards as part of our selection process. We aim to work only with organisations that can demonstrate compliance with applicable labour and human rights laws.

House Clearance Lewisham undertakes proportionate checks and audits on suppliers where the risk of modern slavery may be higher. These checks may include requesting information about recruitment practices, right-to-work documentation, wage records and health and safety procedures. Where necessary, we may ask suppliers to complete self-assessment questionnaires or provide written confirmation of their own modern slavery policies.

If any concerns are identified during these checks or audits, we will work with the supplier to address them within a reasonable timeframe. Where issues cannot be satisfactorily resolved, we reserve the right to suspend or end the commercial relationship.

Reporting channels and escalation

We encourage all employees, contractors and business partners to report any concerns or suspicions about modern slavery or human trafficking connected to House Clearance Lewisham or our supply chain. Concerns may relate to working conditions, recruitment fees, withholding of documents, threats, forced overtime, or any other behaviour that may indicate exploitation.

Reports can be made to management, to a designated senior contact within the business, or through any internal reporting process communicated to staff. We will treat all reports seriously, investigate them promptly and, where appropriate, take corrective or disciplinary action. We will protect anyone who raises a concern in good faith from victimisation or retaliation.

Where there is evidence of criminal activity, we will consider reporting the matter to the relevant authorities and will cooperate fully with any official investigation.

Training, awareness and continuous improvement

House Clearance Lewisham seeks to raise awareness of modern slavery risks among our staff involved in recruitment, procurement, contract management and site operations. We communicate our expectations clearly and ensure that employees understand how to recognise potential warning signs and how to report concerns.

We are committed to continuously improving our approach to identifying and managing modern slavery risks. As our business and supply chains evolve, we will review our procedures, update our due diligence processes and strengthen our controls where needed.

Annual review of this statement

This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is reviewed at least once every year to ensure that it remains accurate, effective and reflective of our current operations and risk profile. As part of the annual review, we consider any incidents reported, outcomes of supplier checks or audits, changes in legislation and best practice guidance.

Following each annual review, we will update the statement if necessary to capture any improvements or changes in our approach. The updated statement will represent our ongoing commitment to combatting modern slavery and maintaining ethical standards in everything we do.