Estate agent fined for its bias against a single mother

A DUBLIN-based estate agent has been ordered to pay €3,000 to a single mother after it discriminated against her single status when she tried to rent an apartment.

The Workplace Relations Commission told the unnamed licensed estate agent to pay the amount because the agent had told the woman that the landlord was looking for a couple for the property.

Last year, the single mother was looking for somewhere new to live for her and her toddler when she saw a two-bedroom apartment for rent. She emailed the letting agent saying: ‘I’m a single mum with one toddler. I’m looking to rent using the Housing Assistance Payment [HAP] scheme, which means rent is paid directly to landlord’s bank account from Dublin City Council. Could you let me know if this would be agreeable. Thank you.’

The estate agent replied: ‘HAP is acceptable but the landlord is looking for a couple here I’m afraid, apologies on this. Kind regards.’

She claimed she’d been discriminated against under the Equal Status Act on the grounds of being a single mother and being single. The estate agent strongly denied discrimination. No parties are named in the WRC report.

Adjudication Officer Roger McGrath stated: ‘The message is clear; couples are fine, single people are not wanted. It would seem the complainant was treated less favourably than a couple would have been.’

He said the woman had not established a prima facie case that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of being a single mother but did on the grounds of being single.