According to a recent investigation by the charity Shelter, one in ten letting agents are refusing to rent to those on housing benefits.
The investigation found that out of 149 regional letting agent branches, 10 per cent have a policy not to rent to anyone on housing, regardless of whether they could afford the payments. 48% of the branches contacted said that they had no suitable homes or landlords willing to let to someone on a housing benefit.
Single mothers with childcare responsibilities and people who receive disability benefits are most likely to be affected, however around 1.6 million adults rely on housing benefit to help with private rents.
Along with the National Housing Federation, Shelter is arguing that this discrimination is unfair and likely to be unlawful, and is urging lettings agents and landlords to remove these bans.
This story originally appeared on The Independent.
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