Landlords refuse to rent flat to me because I have a toddler.

[StephA]

Hello Mumsnet.
I have twice been turned down for flats I wanted to rent, because I have a toddler (this was explicitly stated). Where I come from, that's ILLEGAL. Is is legal in the U.K. to do this? Is is normal? I am getting worried about finding a place to live, as there aren't many affordable flats in my area and my lease is expiring soon.

QS The rent increased from GBP25k to 100K in 2010. If you are paying less than GBP100K a year in rent then you are subject to an AST agreement.

We are paying closer to 25 k than 100 k for sure!

I guess I can email the estate agent and say that we have just had the house professionally cleaned, and would they mind taking the shoes off for viewings so as not to dirty the floor and carpets. And as we are still in theory tenants, the house is still to our disposal until the end of the tenancy agrements, so we ask that any remedial work should take place later, as we may still use the house.

Horrible to hear of people's bad experiences, both as landlords and tenants.

I am a landlord (I hope a good one) and have been a tenant (I probably could have been a bit better).

I would never rule out a tenant because they had children, in fact we are planning to change around one our properties to make it more family friendly as there is a shortage of family homes in the area and it's started to get really competitive for school places.

I've always used the DPS and found them absolutely fine. I've only had to withhold small parts of deposits twice. Once it was straight forward, the second time the tenant just didn't respond (despite the fact he was due £100s back and claimed he was skink) so I followed the instructions, paid a solicitor £5 to witness a letter and it was all sorted a few weeks later.

OP, I hope you find somewhere soon. Did you say what area you are looking in?

Hi, OP here. Just put in yet another offer and was turned down yet again because I was stupid enough to mention my child to the friendly agent who was showing me the place. Again, no indication in the listing or from the agent that the landlord would reject us because of the child. Two weeks later, three offers made, more of my precious time wasted, we are still heading for homelessness, and there's no way I will ever make the mistake of telling anyone I have a child.

I am looking in Battersea, in Nappy Valley, actually: a very family-oriented area, but also expensive.