‘No DSS’ policy could break equality laws, landlords told

LANDLORDS who refuse benefits claimants could be breaking the law by discriminating against women, a housing charity has warned.

According to Shelter, a recent case in which a woman on housing support was awarded compensation after being turned away by an estate agent, means thousands of lettings agents and landlords who reject housing benefit claimants could be flouting equality laws.

Nearly half (43 per cent) of private landlords do not let to benefits claimants, with a further 18 per cent preferring not to, Shelter research showed.

Many mortgage lenders refuse to lend to landlords if they take on tenants who are in receipt of benefits, owing to the higher risk of such tenants falling behind on rent.

The case in question established the principle of sexual discrimination under the Equality Act, because women are statistically more likely to receive housing benefit than men. A total of 60 per cent of claimants in the UK are women, according to official data.

Rosie Keogh, a single mother, won compensation for sex discrimination from a lettings agency that refused to consider her as a tenant because she was receiving state benefits. Nicholas George, the agent, admitted indirect discrimination on the grounds of a female tenant’s sex, settling out of court by paying her £2,000 compensation.

Polly Neate, the chief executive of Shelter, said: “We’re calling on lenders, as well as landlords and letting agents, to get rid of ‘No DSS’ policies and treat people fairly on a case-by-case basis.”