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One in 10 homes for rent advertised as ‘no DSS’
At least one in 10 homes for rent advertised online may be in breach of anti-discrimination laws by banning people on housing benefit from applying, research by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and Shelter has found.
The organisations looked at around 86,000 letting adverts for homes in England on property website Zoopla – and saw that 8,710 said “no DSS” or “no housing benefit”.
In some areas, such as West Cumbria, Gloucester, Lincoln, Halifax and Worthing, around a third of properties explicitly refused people on housing benefit.
North Cumbria was the worst area for benefit discrimination, with 59% of adverts banning people receiving welfare help to pay the rent.
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More than 1.4 million people in England rent from private landlords while claiming housing benefit – with women and disabled people disproportionately likely to be part of this group.
The NHF and Shelter said this meant adverts banning housing benefit claimants were therefore “likely” to be breaking the Equality Act 2010 by indirectly discriminating against women and disabled people.
They added that these explicitly discriminatory adverts were “only the tip of the iceberg”, with many more requiring “professionals only”.
Researchers also sent two versions of an almost identical application to landlords on SpareRoom and Gumtree – finding that those claiming to be on housing benefit were more than twice as likely to be rejected by landlords.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the NHF, said: “This research shows that blatant discrimination against people on housing benefit is widespread.
“Landlords and letting agents are pushing people towards homelessness and could be breaking equality law.
“It is beyond me why property websites are permitting these adverts. They’re sending the message that they’re OK discriminating against someone, simply because they’re on benefits. This has to change.
“Many housing associations were created in the 50s and 60s in reaction to discrimination and racism from private landlords who wouldn’t house migrants, and said ‘no Irish, no Blacks, no dogs’. Today’s discrimination is hardly any different and we refuse to turn a blind eye.”
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “It’s staggering to see this discrimination laid out in black and white – and brazenly enforced by letting agents, landlords and online property websites.
“‘No DSS’ is outdated, offensive and causing misery for thousands.”
The NHF and Shelter called on letting agents, landlords and property websites to end ‘no DSS’ adverts.
A spokesperson for Zoopla said: “Zoopla supports the recommendations of the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residents Landlords Association (RLA), which have advocated that landlords do not impose blanket bans against tenants on benefits.
“Zoopla is aware of a small number of rental listings on its websites that fit into this category and Zoopla will write to all of its member agents to recommend that they follow the NLA and RLA guidance.”
