An undercover BBC investigation has revealed that some London letting agents refuse black tenants.
The BBC’s Inside Out programme says that 10 firms told a reporter posing as a landlord they would not let to African-Caribbean people at his request. It also claims that a black researcher was denied property viewings, while his white counterpart was welcomed.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal for businesses to refuse to provide a service based on ethnicity.
The BBC investigation centred on a three-bedroom flat in Kensington, West London. It invited 10 letting agents to assess its rental value.
All 10 were recorded on secret camera saying they would be prepared not to show the flat to African-Caribbean people. Many detailed how they had done it before, typically telling black applicants the property was already taken or simply just not returning their calls.
One agency exposed by the investigation was A to Z Property Services, in Dollis Hill. A member of staff from the agency told the BBC: "We cannot be shown discriminating against a community. But obviously we've got our ways around that.”
A survey of 750 adults by the Runnymede Trust found 29% of black people seeking private housing had experienced discrimination – compared to just 1% of white respondents.
When confronted in his office, the A to Z Property Services agent said it was "pointless taking on a property" if the landlord "doesn't like" the client's ethnicity.
The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA) said it was dismayed at racist agents. UKALA members agree to abide by a code of practice which reinforces best practice by prohibiting such prejudice.
UKALA executive Caroline Kenny said: “There is no place in today’s lettings market for racial discrimination, practices such as those uncovered by the BBC are abhorrent and illegal.
“If a letting agent is asked by a client not to show a property to a person on the basis of their ethnic origin they have an obligation to explain that such activities are unacceptable and refuse their business.
“I would expect a responsible letting agent to dis-instruct themselves from a landlord making such a disgraceful request.”
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Comments
It is the landlords property he should let to who he wants
it is more likely a case of the landloird giving specific instructions to the agents.
we have had many landlords try to let properties with instructions on what type of person to let the property. its usually due to bad experiences but we take a firm stance on discrimiation against racism and have to turn business away.
however there are some agents who do not have the same views as us and take the instrcutions whilch has led to the BBC's investigation.
this has further tarnished the already bad reputation of estate agents
I wonder why they do this? As lettings agents, they are employed to act in the landlords interests. Does this means they are ignoring their landlords interests and simply discriminating. Or does it mean that their experience of letting other properties make them feel this sort of action is in their landlords interests?