Private Rented Housing
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the potential merits of requiring (a) letting agents and (b) landlords to provide a reason to rental housing applicants for applications being unsuccessful to ensure compliance with the (i) Equality Act 2010 and (ii) Renters Rights Act 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 extends existing protections against discrimination in the lettings process under the Equality Act 2010 to those in receipt of benefits or with children
The Act also provides local authorities with strong investigatory and enforcement powers to bear down on rental discrimination practices in the private rented sector. It addresses both overt discriminatory practices, such as ‘No DSS’ adverts, and situations where landlords or letting agents use other indirect practices in order to prevent someone entering into a tenancy.
My Department also encourages good practice across property agents. The Property Ombudsman already has a code of practice for letting agents which is mandatory for its members; and we will publish, later this year, a non-statutory code of practice setting out minimum best practice standards, and consider legislation to ensure compliance.
Our new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman, once established, will be able to publish guidance and codes of practice for landlords, which will further help to drive up standards across this sector.
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