Students not allowed - is this legal?

ghostmadlittlemiss

There's a letting agency in the city where I live with the following sign in the window: "I'm sorry, we do not deal with student lettings." I can't help but feel that this must be illegal. After all, if you replaced 'student' with 'Jewish' or 'black', it certainly wouldn't be allowed. Is it in fact illegal and if so, what do I go about doing about it? I'd prefer not to have to go into the place or ring them to complain as I'm not very good with confrontation so if anyone can suggest anything that could be done by post or e-mail, that would be great. I am a student and I don't think it's very fair for them to keep us away from these houses, especially as some of them look lovely.
Kayleigh

ktp1975

'Students' are not covered by the Discrimination Act, so don't think it's illegal.

Prehaps the L/L wants long term lets and not just term time etc?

cte1111

It's not illegal to discriminate on the grounds of occupation (or indeed lack of regular income). Sorry I can understand your frustration, when I was a student we were treated like 3rd class citizens by letting agents too. Some landlords are more than happy to have student tenants, and others prefer 'professionals', and letting agencies may well specialize in one or the other.

If you keep looking hopefully you will find other agents who specialize in student properties, and then you're sorted.

Soot2006

I don't think it's very fair for them to keep us away from these houses, especially as some of them look lovely.

Presumably the LLs will have marketed their properties with this LA for a reason!

... I think no student lets basically mean they don't do shared occupancy, don't do guarantors & are worried about the damage students might do. If you have the right references and the right money (!), it's unlikely they would reject you *just* for being a student.

GrammarGirl

There are a lot of agencies in my area that refuse to deal with students... but there are also a lot who deal with them exclusively. I live in a city with a huge student population (Leeds) and I think it's quite common to find this practice.

Incidentely, I currently live with two students (one on placement) whereas I'm a professional, and a lot of letting agencies still wouldn't take us, even though they're not your average students and I work full time!

jayII

I wouldn't think it's illegal. A landlord can let his/her property to whoever they choose, especially since student tenancies are usually quite different to standard 6 month, all-year-round tenancies. In my area some properties are available to students only, some only to professionals without children, some to anyone except students, and a few properties are open to everyone.

silvercar

There is a real problem with council tax for students. Students are exempt so if you have a mixed house (some students some not), the liability for the whole property falls on the non-students. Say you had a HMO with 6 rooms, the house would be banded and the landlord responsible (as its a HMO) for including the CT in the rent. Now if 4 of the housemates are students, the full CT needs to be collected from just 2 occupiers. If 5 were students, the remaining 1 gets clobbered for 75% of the full CT (as single occupiers get 25% discount. Just an unfortunate fall out of the legislation and effects couples where one is a student, mixed houses and the like. Particularly effects houses that used to have ex-students as wardens, now the warden would get clobbered for 75% of the CT due on the whole place.

QTPie

The landlords letting through that agency would know the agents policies and would be happy with them. Generally LLs either want to rent to students/sharers or not: they are normally two completely different markets.

I don't think it is discrimination, but the agency (by putting the sign up) is avoiding wasting your time and theirs.

There are various groups that some LLs wont rent their property out to, those include: students, sharers, people with kids, people with pets, smokers etc. It doesn't make it illegal discrimination... It is just the LLs choice for various reasons.

QT

ghostmadlittlemiss wrote: »

There's a letting agency in the city where I live with the following sign in the window: "I'm sorry, we do not deal with student lettings." I can't help but feel that this must be illegal. After all, if you replaced 'student' with 'Jewish' or 'black', it certainly wouldn't be allowed. Is it in fact illegal and if so, what do I go about doing about it? I'd prefer not to have to go into the place or ring them to complain as I'm not very good with confrontation so if anyone can suggest anything that could be done by post or e-mail, that would be great. I am a student and I don't think it's very fair for them to keep us away from these houses, especially as some of them look lovely.
Kayleigh

BlameTheGame

Its similar to saying 'Sorry no DSS'. Landlords can let to whoever they want and letting agencies can advertise as such to not waste anyones time.

Ruth_Coombs

We have to have student contracts running for Sept 1st to Aug 31st - mortgage companies still want money during the summer holidays. If all the students (no non-students accommodated) stay on same course for another year, then we get full exemption for the summer break. However, if one, two or more are leaving either the course or the house in the June/July or Aug we are hit with CT. I really object to this.

Our houses are only for Students and we have an agreement with the local Uni to this effect. If a house becomes empty and they all leave in June we still get hit with 90% CT as "it is an empty dwelling and we want to encourage LL to fill their houses", even though we have proof we are actively looking for and gaining replacement Students.

We need the Uni behind us on this one. Where would they be without hundreds of rooms let by LL's. As for students being troublesome - without speaking too soon I highly recommend them.

Ruth

PasturesNew

Student lettings is a particular type of letting that involves items including, but not restricted to:

- properties let for peculiar set dates based around term times, with or without half-price months when you're not there
- providing student-centric furniture
- students don't pay council tax and this is payable by the LL, so it can open up issues where students are there, somebody drops out but stays on in the house
- HMO, managing multiple guarantors

Student Lettings is just a completely different business and the letting agent is advising you before you go in that they aren't in that business.

It's like an indian restaurant putting a sign on the window saying "We do not sell chips to take away" - it saves people wasting their time and feeling daft for asking.