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Original poster

Case studies wanted- Have you had difficulty finding somewhere to rent or been given notice because you had children.

47 replies

darcymum · 16/03/2010 15:19

Hi, I'm not a student or anything sensible like that, but I am on a one man mission to change the law.

In the UK it is legal for a landlord to discriminate against people with children when renting out a property. I can find no other country so far that allows this. It causes hardship for people and I want the government to change the law and ban this sort of discrimination.

If you have been effected by this or have a comment, please leave a post and I will try to get in touch with you about it.

Thanks
I have also stared a petition if you want to sign it, link below.
please sign

OP posts:
daysoftheweek · 25/03/2010 21:01

Yes we once went through about 50 very intrusive personal questions (what do you do, how much do you earn, why are you renting, where are you from etc etc) only to be told ll didn't want children!!
I don't object to answering some relevant questions but if you know you don't want children you don't need to ask them do you?

will sign

Original poster
darcymum · 25/03/2010 21:55

Thanks for the replies. Anyone willing to let me use them as a case study though?

OP posts:
MrsFlittersnoop · 25/03/2010 23:48

OK - I'll help if I can! I have plenty of horror stories . We have been ripped off for thousands of pounds in lost deposits over the last few years because of very minor damage - a scratched piece of wallpaper in the hallway required a 4 bed house to have the entire 3 floors of hallways and stairs to be completely re-papered apparently! . We spent hundreds of pounds on professional cleaners to come in spring-clean, shampoo carpets and upholstery etc, only to be charged again for cleaning costs.

A light bulb (in a flat with appalling dodgy electrics) blew out, marking the ceiling - we had were charged for for the entire knock-through lounge-diner to be re-painted!

I also see things from both sides - I was the landlady of a BTL student property for a few years in the early 90's, so I quite understand why landlords are wary about protecting their investments.

But I would never EVER have discriminated against parents - quite the opposite in fact. I would always have chosen a single mum any day over skanky students, precisely because I was the skankiest student tenant ever in my time! .

daysoftheweek · 26/03/2010 00:07

oh yes I was going to post that they are missing a trick here, families are better generally speaking they are more stable, stay for longer, don't have lots of parties and look after the place.

MrsF did you never think of the small claims court? I'm sure we're going to end up there with current landlord main reason we took this place was it was so grotty..... had enough now though. However I'm cmpletely expecting him to view our deposit as his personal property improvement fund.

sb6699 · 26/03/2010 00:23

daysoftheweek - if you moved within the last 2 years your LL would have been required to use the Tenants Deposit Scheme so you they will act in the event of any dispute.

If you search for the thread I started "BigBadMummy or anyone else with lettings knowledge - need advice please", one poster added some links which might be helpful for you to look at.

MrsFlittersnoop · 26/03/2010 00:34

Daysoftheweek - we took our last flat on because it was cheap and grotty, and negotiated the rent down by £10.00 per week on the understanding we could re-decorate.

It was in a "nice area" - think North London Leafy Suburb near Good School - but was on a a major roundabout, over a Turkish late-night supermarket (quite convenient actually ) and was filthy, we had to completely re-paint the flat and get 2 doors re-hung, cos the the previous student tenants had trashed the place. DH and I both work from home, so our 2 bedrooms had to double up as offices. We didn't have enough room for a table to have family meals around.

This was 6 years ago. Even back then, we were paying £900 per month rent, plus £200 per month council tax. We had to put up with foul graffitti all over our front door, Neds/ Chavs hanging around outside, police constantly called out by long-suffering Offie-owners downstairs...

This may be totally irrelevant, but we are Not Young - DH and I are now mid-late forties. We moved back to my home town last year and now live with my very Aged Mama! Suits us all!

daysoftheweek · 26/03/2010 01:05

no sb we missed it by a couple of months!!

Original poster
darcymum · 27/03/2010 15:00

Thank you so much for all your replies.

Anyone else? Or anyone who wants to sign the petition?

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 27/03/2010 15:10

Can you not use age discrimination on the renting landlords - as they are children - under 18 it is saying they cant live in a house due to thier age, would his work?

Original poster
darcymum · 27/03/2010 15:23

Thanks for that. I have looked into the law on this (although I am not a lawyer). Age discrimination legislation only covers (I think) discrimination in the work place.

It does seem to my reading of it to be in breach of The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child though, to which the UK is a signatory. I have asked Shelter about this and they have said that although one of the principles of the UNCRC is any discrimination they have tried to use this convention before in other unrelated cases but courts have decided that it is to aspirational to be legally binding.

If you have any other ideas or comments please post them though.

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 27/03/2010 16:22

could this apply to the young aswell

Surely this can't just be for older persons must must apply for younger or any age otherwise that in it'self would be ageist!

Ivykaty44 · 27/03/2010 16:23

Complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about nonbroadcast advertisements? sales promotions and direct marketing. You may want to complain if you?ve seen a press advertisement? promotion? leaflet or poster that you think is ageist and you want it changed or withdrawn. The ASA can stop misleading or offensive advertising and ensure sales promotions are run fairly.

would the above include advertising a rental property and stating no children?

You can't advertise for other sales for a particular age....

jcscot · 27/03/2010 17:07

I could be wrong but your petition would have to be different depending on the area of the country you're aiming at. If you just want to change the law in England and Wales, your case studies should be from that area. If you want to effect change in Scotland as well, IIRC, the law is different there so you'd need to petition the Scottish Parliament and include case studies under Scottish Law.

twopeople · 27/03/2010 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ant3nna · 27/03/2010 17:59

I haven't had any bad experiences with this but the last time you posted about it, I wrote to my MP. Nothing back at all. Apparently they don't work for me.

nighbynight · 27/03/2010 18:16

I am in Germany, and I was turned down for every single place that I applied for, including a house with 10 rooms, when I admitted to having 4 children.
Could only get a house by lying in the end.

Original poster
darcymum · 29/03/2010 14:25

Thank you all you have been so kind and had such good ideas. I have been feeling really demoralized about the whole business recently. As I have said it should be shelter or the Commission for Equality and Human Rights doing this not a housewife because her friend was evicted.

Ivykaty, I hadn't thought of either of those thanks I will check them out. If you keep having good ideas like the ASA you will have to change you name to Batman!

ant3nna, would you be able to let me know what your MP says if they do get back to you? My email address is- [email protected] Are they standing for election again because that could make a difference.

OP posts:
Original poster
darcymum · 29/03/2010 14:31

nightbynight- I haven't checked out the law in Germany, in fact have found it hard to find out about non- english speaking countries. From what you are saying though it sounds as though it would be legal to advertise properties 'no children' as they do in the UK. I knew some other countries must allow it but so far every other country I have found out about that sort of advertisement would be illegal.

I have heard others say how much better it is renting in Europe and how much more rights tenants have. Thanks for giving the discussion more balance.

OP posts:
ant3nna · 29/03/2010 19:56

darcymum, I wrote to him in January so I think its safe to say that I am not going to hear back from him. I will let you know if he does though.

nighbynight · 30/03/2010 07:29

darcy - no they all say "family friendly, would suit family with 1-2 children" when its a 4 bedroom house! Anything outside their description is refused.

admylin · 30/03/2010 07:48

Nighbynight, to what extent did you lie? Just asking because we've given up on finding a 4 room place and are going to try large 3 room flats but they'll turn us down if they see we have a boy and a girl who can't share.

nighbynight · 30/03/2010 09:40

I said I had 2 children

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