AN estimated 70% of landlords in Cornwall will not accept people whose rent will be paid by benefits – despite ’DSS discrimination’ being declared unlawful in July.
The BBC’s shared data unit carried out a snapshot survey of 9,000 property listings in the UK.
It found that pets were more likely to be accepted into a rented property than benefits claimants.
In July, a judge in a county court ruled that blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefit were unlawful and discriminatory.
The judge ruled so-called "no DSS" rental bans were against equality laws. DSS is the initialism for the Department of Social Security, which was replaced in 2001 by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The charity Shelter says landlords discriminating against tenants because they claim benefits is “outdated, grossly unfair and illegal under the Equalities Act”.
Its chief executive Polly Neate said: “No DSS’ discrimination is unlawful, as well as grossly unfair because it overwhelmingly prevents women and disabled people, who are more likely to need support paying their rent, from finding a safe home.
"Last month’s ruling should be a wake-up call for landlords and letting agents to clean up their act and treat all renters equally.
"We won’t stop fighting DSS discrimination until it’s banished for good.”
The Shared Data Unit looked at a random selection of 37 property listings in Cornwall, of which 11 said they accepted housing benefit payments.