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Ammended Monday, 17 August, 2020 by the editor

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“NO DSS makes no economic sense - hence the only reason for its imposition can be prejudice based on uninformed stereotyping of a DSS tenant. It is not just landlords & letting agents that have to be taken to task over this - but mortgage lenders.”
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Update—July 2020
UK District Judge Victoria Mark in York County Court on 1 July has ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully discriminating on the grounds of sex and disability".

And this was, therefore, contrary to the Equality Act 2010, she said.

Update—February 2016
Ireland has passed legislation outlawing landlord discrimination against recipients of State welfare rent allowance benefits.

Advertisement
“ Nice room to let in quiet secluded house. Use of all mod cons. Free radio broadband & unlimited telephone calls. Parking. No DSS.”

The above advertisement was taken from an Internet letting agency website. Similarly worded advertisements—No DSS (Department of Social Security claimants–recipients of state welfare)—appear daily in regional and national newspapers. If they are considered ‘legal’, then the author of this item considers this is contrary to established law relating to discrimination.

If a similar advertisement appeared in print stating ‘No Blacks’ or ‘No Pakistani’s, or ‘no single parents’ or even ‘no gays’ then the publisher would most certainly be faced with prosecution for permitting the publication of discriminatory advertisements.

To see how common this discriminate form of advertising and rental is, Google search the term ‘no dss’.

Some landlord’s refuse to accept recipients of DSS because they do not wish to disclose that they are letting properties on the rental market. Whenever a DSS claimant makes an application for housing benefit (social welfare rent payments), the landlord is registered on the local council’s records and as a result also with the Inland Revenue services.

However, many people in receipt of DSS allowances are not simply just out of work, they are in receipt of disability and incapacity allowances. And in their cases, advertisements that state ‘no DSS’ are actively discriminating against their status as disabled people. I am one of them. And what about people in receipt of state pensions?

Importantly, many people struggling to make a living receive (in the UK) Family Tax Credits—an income supplement, which also entitles them to housing benefit and council tax benefits. These people are all too often tarred with the brush of receiving DSS. Is this a just and fair system?

In 1988 I had parted from my wife and two daughters and although we attempted a reconciliation, in 1989 we agreed to divorce and go our separate ways, our daughters remaining with my wife. In 1990, I moved away to another location in the UK and started a new job.

In 1995, following my return from a charity trip into central Bosnia, I went through a very difficult personal crisis and quit my job and home in Hampshire and went to Ireland, and on to the USA for 12 months before returning to Ireland and settling in Limerick City in Ireland.

Health issues began to trouble me and in 1998 I was registered as disabled by the Irish health services. Unable to properly continue in my profession as a qualified staff journalist, I set up this news-based website. I was also able to continue working as a freelance journalist and over the years I spent in Ireland my work appeared in all of the daily national newspapers and most of the Sunday national papers. As a freelance writer/editor I was also asked to review and comment on new books due to go into print and my comments have been published in them.

I lost contact with my daughters after traveling to the USA and although I attempted to re-establish contact, I was unable to secure any replies from them or their mother and believed they had moved to another location. Extensive searches via the Internet failed to produce any results. Then, in December 2005, I located a reference on the Internet to my brother-in-law in Sussex. There was no contact information in the item but a letter to the Sussex Evening Argus produced an almost immediate response from someone who knew him.

Through this contact I was able to learn that my daughters and former wife in fact still lived at the same address and we re-established contact with each other. After six months of communicating with my former wife, who traveled to Ireland to visit me, she invited me to return to the family home in the UK.

Little did I realise just what indifference I would be returning when I decided to return to my home country in June, 2005.

I returned with nothing more than a few bags of clothing and my computer equipment and set about the business of applying for my disability allowance—in my case in the UK its equivalent being an incapacity allowance. European (EU) legislation means that any EU citizen in now entitled to receive an allowance awarded to him or her by an EU member country in any other EU member country. It is now November 2006 as I update this article, some 17 months since my return to the UK, and my allowance has still not been cleared or settled.

It took until November 2005 until the UK department dealing with it decided that my ‘claim’ had to be sent to Ireland as the ‘qualifying authority’—meaning the authority who had granted the allowance to begin. The idiotic and indifferent bureaucracy is absolutely beyond belief.

The attempted reunion with my former wife did not work and within six weeks of my having quit the life I had built for myself in Ireland, I found myself homeless in the UK. A good friend who I had first met in Ireland, a German man with a family, heard of my desperate situation and immediately offered his help, stating that I should come and stay with them until I was able to sort something else out.

That was in July 2005. Lacking any deposit money for a down payment on a place to live, I was unable to secure anywhere to live. Requests to Basildon council in whose region I had become homeless and where my family still lived fell on deaf ears. ‘We cannot help’ was the only response I received.

Likewise requests to the council in the area in which I was staying with my friends brought the same dismal lack of assistance. Despite living with a family of four, which includes two school-aged boys, and having to sleep in a makeshift bed in the family’s living room with my clothes still in a traveling bag, I was, the council said, not considered as a priority.

They could, a housing advisor said, point me towards a private landlord as the council maintained a list of such. When I explained that it was pointless me approaching a private landlord as I lacked the money for a deposit and monthly rental in advance, the only advice I was given was to approach the local JobCentre and request a community care grant or a budgeting loan. This I did, with the request for £750 to cover one month rental and deposit. The loan they granted was £420—useless to all intent and purpose.

Aside from my personal experiences related to this article — all events have a personal connection or they become meaningless — I return to the title of this article—No DSS here. A good friend in Ireland, aware of my predicament, came into some money and kindly offered to make available to me sufficient cash to cover a rental deposit for a place to stay and one month’s rental in advance.

Armed with this possibility, I began a search for available properties to rent and came across advertisements stating that the landlord would not accept any tenants who were in receipt of State welfare. True figures of claimant numbers are vey difficult to obtain from the UK Government to any degree of real accuracy. Statistics to measure those in receipt of unemployment or other state benefits have been manipulated to such a degree as to have become all but meaningless.

According to the UK Government's national statistics office website, the number claiming unemployment benefit, i.e., JobSeekers Allowance, stood at 919,700 in February 2006. It is unclear if these figures include all claimants, those on sick-related benefits such as disability and incapacity allowances.

What is clear is that if all landlords operated a policy of refusing to house DSS claimants, then in February 2006 there would have been 919,700 people, and their families where applicable, homeless. Is this an acceptable state of affairs?

It would surely be prejudicial discrimination if any landlord revoked a tenancy because a particular existing tenant became either unemployed or ill and as a result started to receive state benefits, including housing benefit. Why then are landlords—and more importantly publishers—able to publish advertisements that discriminate against people who have done nothing wrong?

Despite repeated requests for a comment from the Advertising Standards Authority with regard to their stance on this issue, no reponse has been received from them since this article was published.

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Should "No DSS" be unlawful prejudicial discrimination?

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Mike Cronnie M_I_Cronnie@hotmail.com - 24/08/2011 15:41

I have been a private landlord in the past, but am no longer since I sold my rental property due to a change in my personal circumstances. I Was registered with the state as a landlord, which cost me a ?50 registration fee.

I Would never say no to DSS because it is a generalisation that I think should be illegal. It is Discriminatory and quite disgusting in the 21st century to think that such an inequality can exist.

Private landlords who have commented that they have been left in debt by people on DSS, Well sorry, but you can not generalise...... that is why the law states that you can ask for references from previous landlords and have gather an accommodation history. I bet if you asked for them, you would have not let those people live in your property... Not because they are on DSS, but because they have had a poor housing record. But the majority are too lazy to do such simple tasks, and leave it to a letting agent who want to make their job easier and simply say No-DSS (as that drug dealer who pays you cash in hand and lets people come to his house for a fix doesn't have any trouble paying his rent)

Personally, I never had any issues with my tenants on DSS because of this, and I had the security of knowing that at least 75% of the bill would actually be covered each month by the state, allowing for a small shortfall. If a non-DSS person couldn't afford to pay, you wouldn't be guaranteed any money.

My oldest tenant was 85, she was on state pension, housing benefit etc... Should i have turned her down and said no DSS????

Randy reto@rock.com - 08/04/2011 02:05

i understand both sides. landlords sometimes loose money on DSS people who are leaving an appt. trashed and with no payment over month. i do believe it sometimes it is frustrating for them. on the other hand i want to point out there are nice people on DSS as well with good manners and good intentions. "strictly no DSS" should not be allowed but i would agree if the landlord is asking for a 3 month deposit if one is claiming DSS. and the govt. should be forced to pay this deposit to the landlord directly. also i dont think its right to pay the rent directly to the dependant. i believe it would make more sense to pay the landlord directly. my landlord knows i am on DSS and since i have always paid my rent bu time he has no problems with me. i am on DSS after battling lymphoma cancer but i'd rather have a regular job if i was able to work. i am not really feeling comfortable on DSS.

TinaAngela imagemgmt@yahoo.ca - 27/08/2010 20:10

All you folks voting yes have never been lanlords. We lose so much money this is why it should be allowed.

CNL chloelancaster@btinternet.com - 15/02/2010 12:54

My family and I are currently on 'DSS' as we are both mature students and have children, my landlord, as far as I know, is currently unaware that half of his rent is being paid by the DSS. I am appalled that they can get away with specifying no DSS but they dont even need to know anymore. As long as they get paid then what's the problem?

michelle Mills michellemills.mills@googlemail.com - 09/01/2010 18:37

I come from Australia and I worked in DSS or centrelink over there... this would be classed as discrimination and can and would be taken to court... It is disgusting the amount of discrimination I have seen and heard to rent a property both myself and my husband are disabled and are living in a flat that is dangerous to both of us but can't move due to everywhere saying no dss..my husband recieves benefits.. but not only that but if you find someone who will take dss or not put no dss they find other ways to discriminate against you to refuse you the property... eg treating you as getting a damn mortgage over here and having to go through credit checks etc...yet stating if you fail it's ok cause we'll find other ways around it.. and yet when you offer even 3-6months up front which we have struggled to come up with the money for it's not enough..my husband has had bad credit and I have no credit history here....however if for any reason you fail your credit check that's the first thing they offer you to do...what a stupid and backward bunch of....... and I will stop there because in nearly three years in this rotten country I am honestly totally disgusted with the whole system and way rental agents and such treat you...

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Lorraine Lorrainerobinson@rocketmail.com - 18/10/2015 08:22

My daughter who is on Pip ( old DLA) has always been refused rental property in the SW due to the cliche NO DSS etc. Yes I can see both sides to this, but landlords get extortionate amounts of rent for their property and may have to repair when tenants leave, but how often will that be? If they rent legally it's all tax deductible surely! I think one of the biggest reasons is that the people letting the property are dodging the tax system, not declaring they have let their property out., so do not have to declare tax on the property. Basically it means buy a house, let it out to paying working people and this pays your mortgage whilst you have little outlay and a house at the end of 25 years paid for and is an investment for them. Perhaps the inland revenue people should actually do a search on how many people do this and evade paying tax! It would come into thousands of pounds I bet. Really the go ferment should make more money available for councils to build more council rented properties at a low rent ( like we used to have) over a long period it would be less in housing benefit for the government to pay out and an investment in property value for every council. The government has this huge pot of money for aid abroad, which I'm all for, but I don't think they want to address the housing problem let alone the people that are homeless, an utter disgrace. Charity should always begin at home, if we can't sort out the housing problem how can the government through money to other countries. My daughter has eventually got a lovely landlord, funnily enough they are foreign but have lived in this country for many years now. He is a very good business man and has many properties he lets out, but declares his earnings as you would expect from his rentals. Also the rents re sky high and she only gets a proportion from housing benefit and has to find the balance which means she goes without a lot of things. If their is a housing benefit cap then landlords should be in breech of anything that is above these amounts surely, do the government have no control? If they bought out a law that people will be fined if they ask for more than the except able rate it may keep prices down. I believe we are the only country where the value of property keeps increasing in value, why? This is a major problem and surely the government can't keep turning a blind eye. Sorry to go on so, but I feel very strong about this.

Lorraine Lorrainerobinson@rocketmail.com - 18/10/2015 08:22

Geraldine Roohan geri1976@live.co.uk - 23/10/2013 13:40

I am very fortunate in that I live in Housing Association Accommodation which do not discriminate. I am on Housing Benefit due to a disability but I am also a Full-Time Student T University as I really want to get out of 'the benefit trap'. I would love to move because my house is too small for myself and my two children that we cannot all live there. But I would be waiting years for a bigger house even if I went on the house swop list the council have. If I wanted to move in the near future the only option I have at the moment is private renting. The trouble with this is the discriminatory "NO DSS" rule. Also I have looked at some of the houses out there and for my budget, I'd have to move into a house that needed a lot of work or needed up-dating. Is this fair? The house I live in now is beautiful because I have taken so much care of it. I am very house proud and any landlord would be extremely lucky to have me as a tenant. I'd more than likely increase the value of their property because I like my house to be right. I have been well brought up, I am respectful, but unfortunately the government allows this discrimination. I feel so strongly about this I will be writing to my M.P in the near future. This needs changing, and I will be proactive in seeking a change for myself and others. Please work with me people.

el elizabeth_king@rocketmail.com - 28/01/2012 21:48

I think "No DSS" is revolting. The only argument that I could have some validily is the trouble landlords say they consequently have from the council themselves. That said, there is always a possibility of their prospective tenants having trouble paying the rent whether they earn all of it themselves or not.

I'm unemployed, on housing benefit and sickness benefits due to long term severe mental health problems which cause immense debilitation for me. I am a conscientious person and would always look after somewhere I moved into.

How are people supposed to build up their confidence, health and lives when they are so often hindered from doing so?

Apartments are trashed by high flying business people and lower earning/unemployed people alike. The amount of money you earn has nothing to do with your trustworthiness; isn't that obvious?

jane janieski@btinternet.com - 30/07/2011 19:53

Im sick of reading NO DSS, its a joke, the name calling, the sterotyping that goes with it too, I have fibromayglia, but I am also a part time student, studying to gain a Degree with 1st class HONS in Psychology, so I have to use DSS to pay my rent, look at the costs of rentals, my husband only brings home ?300 a week after tax, we have to use 'dss' to pay the rent, I am sick of there landlords using this terms and condtions and they are getting away with it all the time, its actually got worse not better, I was reading 3 adverts today, all 3 said no children too along with no dss, my god, even people with children now are being discriminated against!!!!

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