Can Private Landlords Refuse To Let To Housing Benefit Claimants?

It is not unusual for private landlords to advertise properties to let stating that they will not accept applications from Housing Benefit claimants. This raises the question of whether such restrictions amount to unlawful discrimination. In fact private landlords are free to refuse to let to Housing Benefit claimants, just as they are free to refuse to let to applicants who are not in receipt of benefit but who have a poor credit history.  The House of Commons has issued a briefing paper explaining why. Download from the Parliament website.