Property portals take move to stamp out housing benefit discrimination

By the end of April two of the biggest property portals in Britain will no longer allow lettings listings that state tenants who receive housing benefits cannot rent an advertised home. The decision by Rightmove and Zoopla is part of a wider stance being taken to stamp out discrimination where landlords have what is called a ‘No DSS’ policy and refuse to rent to those in receipt of benefits. The Work and Pensions Committee is currently carrying out an inquiry into discrimination against benefit claimants in the housing sector. It has already written to mortgage lenders, insurers, property agents and property ad sites with questions about how their policies end up treating people who are trying to rent a home and in receipt of a benefit.