No DSS bans 'Ruled' Unlawful by Court
As many of you will be aware Shelter have been encouraging DSS (DWP) applicants to challenge agents for some time. There was an out of court settlement made to an applicant in 2018.
As a consequence, as often happens, a case was brought before York County Court on 1 July involving a letting agent who had a blanket ban on DSS applicants. District Judge Victoria Mark ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of sex and disability contrary to Sections 19 and 29 of the Equality Act 2010”.
Nine Ladies, Children, Elderly, Young, Disabled, Dancing - The Importance of Equality
The Equality Act is relied upon and used in every sphere of our daily lives, it’s prevalent wherever we work or live.
The definition by the Oxford English Dictionary is -the fact of being equal in rights, status, advantages, etc.racial/social/sexual equality, equality of opportunity, the principle of equality before the law (= the law treats everyone the same)
The Equality Act of 2010 brought together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. The Act provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. It provides Great Britain with a discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.
No DSS, No DWP, No Benefits - Updated Guidance for Lettings Professionals
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has now clarified advice the CMA’s guidance for lettings professionals on consumer protection law. How did we get here? Shelter started their campaign "Stop DSS Discrimination" in 2018, which lead to examining blanket adverts that stated "No DSS", “considered” by Shelter to be discriminatory. The campaign lead to the property portals restricting the use of the phrase "No DSS" and some major lenders removing the restriction within their mortgage agreements. The CMA has now updated guidance in relation to the way in which properties to be let are advised and what can or cannot be said within the advert.