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us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
a service worker or contractor makes sexual comments and you still need access to your home

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Pause any non-emergency visit that does not feel safe. If the repair issue may itself be dangerous, use the office, property manager, or utility emergency route and ask for a different worker or another trusted adult’s presence.

Do not do these things

  • Do not let pressure to finish the repair push you into a visit that feels unsafe.
  • Do not meet the person alone in a closed area to discuss what happened.
  • Do not feel pressured to agree to an unannounced non-emergency visit or entry while you are unavailable.
  • Do not feel that you have to confront the person, explain your reaction, or decide whether to report anything right now.

What to do now

  1. Pause the next non-emergency visit if needed. Send a brief written message saying that the appointment needs to be canceled or rescheduled. If the repair issue may itself be dangerous, use the company’s, landlord’s, property manager’s, or utility’s emergency route and ask for a different worker or another person’s presence.
  2. Ask for a different worker. Contact the company office, landlord, or property manager rather than the individual worker. Ask that the person not be assigned to your home again.
  3. Ask for a clearer access arrangement. Ask what notice will be given, who will attend, and whether visits can be agreed in advance whenever possible.
  4. Arrange support for any necessary visit. When possible, have a trusted person with you or nearby. Keep your phone with you and verify who is at the door before allowing entry.
  5. Limit the visit to the repair. Only allow access to areas needed for the work. You do not need to discuss personal matters or respond to sexual comments.
  6. Keep information only if it may help you later. If you may want to complain or report later, consider keeping messages and a brief note of what happened.
  7. Use emergency help if needed. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you want support without deciding what to do next, RAINN can provide support and information about local resources.
  8. Use housing-specific support if relevant. If the person is connected to your housing, such as a landlord, property manager, or maintenance worker, sexual harassment may fall within fair housing protections. HUD and the Department of Justice explain optional reporting routes.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether to make a formal complaint or contact law enforcement.
  • You do not need to write a detailed account while you are overwhelmed.
  • You do not need to decide how the entire repair will be completed today.
  • You do not need to persuade anyone that your discomfort is serious enough to change the arrangement.

Important reassurance

Feeling conflicted is understandable when you still need repairs or access to your property. You are allowed to pause a visit, ask for a different worker, and request safer access arrangements without debating or defending your reaction.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilize safety and access. Later decisions about housing, complaints, or legal options may need specialist support when you are in a calmer place.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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