Undercover Check Finds Discrimination Against Tenants On Benefits

An undercover investigation by housing charity Shelter has found routine discrimination by letting agents against tenants on housing benefit, with national chain Haart named as the “worst offender”. Working with the National Housing Federation, Shelter researchers called 149 letting branches around the UK, and found that one in 10 had a blanket ban rejecting any applicants on housing benefit. While “no DSS” bans – a reference to the now defunct government department responsible for benefits – are not illegal, Shelter is planning a court challenge arguing they breach the 2010 Equality Act, as they disproportionately affect women and disabled people who are more likely to need a housing benefit top-up. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/22/undercover-check-finds-discrimination-against-tenants-on-benefits