Estate agents discrimination

bea1980
bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected
edited February 2025 in Housing and independent living

Hi all


this may be long so I apologise in advance.


I’m on disability benefits IR ESA (just migrated to UC) and higher pip both components.


I used to live alone 9 years ago but moved back home when my mum was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away 5 years ago and I stayed with my dad to help him navigate his grief and not be lonely.


I turned 40 last year and since I moved back I’ve had zero life of my own. Now I feel so lonely as I’ve not even had a partner in that time and I’ve missed my chance of having a family of my own.


I've been looking to move since November last year. And here’s the problem. I’ve emailed every local estate agent to no avail. I’ve looked on sites like Rightmove, zoopla, openrent and on the market multiple times a day. Every time I see a property I enquire about it. They initially respond within minutes asking questions. As soon as I mention housing benefit they ghost me.

How do I go about getting my own place, I can’t live here anymore. My depression is getting worse and I just want a life before it’s too late.

Any advice greatly appreciated


thanks

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,375 Championing

    It’s been the same for many years. Even those that work find it very difficult to privately rent due to affordability.

    Sometimes there are some landlords that will accept you if you have a guarantor.

    You can fill out a form to add your name to the list for social/council housing but again the wait could be many years.

  • bea1980
    bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected

    thanks for your replies.

    I’ve offered at least 3 months rent in advance to no avail. I’ve been registered with the council for over 15 years but I’m not a priority. I think living in London doesn’t help as there’s a lot of competition when applying for properties.

  • letitbe
    letitbe Community Member Posts: 344 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/977684#Comment_977684

    I’ve had exactly the same problem , email them and when they find out youre on benefits no reply at all, it’s a form of discrimination, the ones that do offer properties to claimants are usually exceptionally greedy landlords that have bought properties and turn them into as many studios as possible , basically a room with a sink/kitchenette in a corner and a tiny separate shower / toilet and charge the maximum , in London that’s over £1400 pm starting rent, they know the discrimination we face so the offer the least they can for the most money they can get .

    Most of us on benefits are good respectful people , despite what the news outlets would have you believe . I’ve also been on the council register for years but cant bid because I’m in the lowest band , I’m trying to challenge that atm but I absolutely know they’ll say I have no priority at all .

    Good luck trying to find somewhere , openrent does have a filter where you can select only properties where the landlord accepts benefit claimants, when you toggle this on there’s hardly any properties left though .

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,270 Championing

    I've had the same problem for years as well. Can't see any end to it unfortunately.

    I've had enough income to move for half a decade, but couldn't find anyone to accept, and now my health has deteriorated to the point that I don't think I could cope with a move. I can't cope with my current property either though so I just feel completely trapped now.

  • letitbe
    letitbe Community Member Posts: 344 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/977702#Comment_977702

    this is exactly how I feel

  • bea1980
    bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected

    it seems like we’re all in the same boat. I just don’t understand it, if you claim HB then you get guaranteed rent so we’re not really a ‘risk’ unfortunately some people on benefits give others a bad name. All you see in the news are the wrong un’s when a majority of us are decent people. I worked since the age of 15 until I physically and mentally could not anymore. My credit rating is excellent, no debt or CCJ’s. I claim benefits due to mental and physical health, it’s not my fault I’m sick and I’d much rather be in employment than not. Meeting people as I have absolutely no friends at all. I spend 24/7 in my house and I’m just so lonely.
    estate agents see us as the bottom of the pile and that’s not true at all. We deserve to have a place to call home

  • bea1980
    bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected

    to add that I’m not stupid. I know what I can afford and only go for properties within my LHA rate.

    It’s actually illegal to discriminate against people on benefits but they just don’t care

  • letitbe
    letitbe Community Member Posts: 344 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/977822#Comment_977822

    it’s so true , they just don’t care at all

  • letitbe
    letitbe Community Member Posts: 344 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/977820#Comment_977820

    They see us as desperate and pitiful and close a door that’s barely open . Have you tried to have your banding reassessed with council to see if you can move up the list ? I’m trying at the moment and it’s so disheartening coz I know at the end they’ll reject it but I have to try something

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,375 Championing

    I agree that those who don't pay their rent give those that do a bad name. There's just as much chance of a working age person not paying their rent as there is with someone claiming benefits.

    It doesn't really help matters that the LHA more often than not doesn't cover the whole of your rent.

    I was lucky and moved into a social housing property in January 2023 due to my physical health. If I was still living in my previous privately rented house the shortfall of rent would now be £180/month.

  • bea1980
    bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/977826#Comment_977826

    I’ve tried multiple times. As I live with family I’m not seen as ‘in need’ because I have a roof over my head so other people get priority

  • bea1980
    bea1980 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected

    Exactly that! People can lose jobs and have no income to pay the rent yet we are guaranteed to get the rent paid each and every month. Make it make sense lol

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,040 Championing

    I just don’t understand it, if you claim HB then you get guaranteed rent so we’re not really a ‘risk’

    Bea, Housing Benefit (HB) cannot be relied upon for rent payments, no. There are no guarantees with HB. So benefit claimants are a risk for landlords whether private or social housing.

  • letitbe
    letitbe Community Member Posts: 344 Empowering

    it’s the stigma that unfortunately a lot of people on benefits are brushed with , that we are all drunkards that’ll ruin the property and be nothing but problems . Most of us are respectful and responsible

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