Letting agencies in Brighton sign pledge to end rent discrimination

Community union Acorn visited several letting agents to demand they sign a pledge committing to refrain from policies such as not accepting tenants on Universal Credit or housing benefit.

It comes after Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing committee approved a motion for ending rent discrimination on June 22.

Naomi Gann, Acorn South East organiser, said: “We're pleased that seven letting agencies signed Acorn's pledge, and we'll be waiting to see if they stick to it.

Members outside Fox and Sons

“Landlords and letting agencies have been able to get away with discriminatory practices for far too long, and this campaign has laid the groundwork for change at last.

“Our members will be revisiting those agencies that refuse to sign, and also making sure the council keeps its promise to crack down on housing discrimination and support tenants getting justice.”

The agencies that signed the pledge were Paul Bott and Co, Fox and Sons, Coastway Property Management, Porters Estate Agents, Sparks and Son, NGB Lettings, and Leaders. 

The group will be going around other letting agencies in the future

Other agencies said they would need time to consider signing the pledge.

A city council spokesman said: “A motion setting out support for ending rent discrimination was approved by our housing committee in June.

“The motion emphasised that so-called ‘no DSS’ policies are discriminatory and are barriers to benefit claimants.

“These include practices such as requiring six months’ rent in advance, homeowner guarantors and prohibitive terms and conditions.

The group outside Hove Town Hall last year

“We will be providing advice and signposting information to help tenants and prospective tenants to challenge such discrimination.

“We are also working towards developing an ethical landlord charter where landlords pledge not to discriminate.”

At the housing committee meeting in June, Labour’s housing spokeswoman councillor Gill Williams said: “It’s our moral obligation as a council to champion equality and the rights of renters by condemning discrimination in private housing and to take all actions available to us in stamping out these unlawful practices employed by rogue landlords and letting agencies.

“As a city, we rightly stand against discrimination in all its forms – we must show that same resolve on this issue, and stamp out discrimination against benefit claimants in the private rental sector.”