Tenant Discrimination by Landlords: Your Rights Explained

Any good advice given to the tenant?
The only way to go about it is to ask the landlord to renew tenancy, or carry on in periodic tenancy.
If the tenant predicts discrimination I guess they could use covert recording as evidence gathering.

In the event of Landlord discriminating against them, theirs always evidence gathering after the fact such as a friend seeing if property is still available for monies/terms that the current tenant offered.

As you say as long as its a good tenant, could not care about race, gender or sexual orientation, just pay on time please.

The tenant seems to be assuming that the Landlord is likely to be discriminatory. With that mindset, there's more likelihood the Landlord will pick up on that vibe.

Alternatively, going with the mindset that's it's no problem at all, and that the Landlord will be understanding, will likely help.

A friend recently told me that they were going to change gender, and I particularly appreciated that they explained this before their actual transition. I was able to ask questions (as I had never knowingly encountered someone who was transgender before), which helped me to understand them much better.

I think that just jumping from one gender to the other would have been a massive shock, and more likely to provoke a negative reaction.

So my suggestion? Be open and honest, and take things from the perspective that everything is ok. IF (and only if) it goes wrong, then deal with it. But delay any negative frame of mind unless it's needed.

Dan

I can't see how it would be a problem for a landlord.
I would like to see how the law would view it, she would need a new tenancy agreement under her new name (going from something like John to Sarah) but would it be seen as a different person because it's not just a name change?

As someone who is transgendered myself (Male to Female) your article is very interesting.

I've found that the fear of peoples reactions to my gender change is a lot worse than what actually transpired.

I've had a tremendous amount of understanding from all that know me and I do feel that this is very much due to my approach of being open and honest with people about my gender change.

Tanya

Can't completely agree with you today. The landlord owns the property and therefore should be able to discriminate in any way he likes. If he wants to forego his money to indulge his prejudices then that's his lookout. I operate a letting agency in a 'diverse' area and I have Sikh landlords that will not allow Muslim tenants and vice-versa, African landlords that won't let to other Africans or even blacks at all, Jamaicans that won't let to Africans, African tenants that don't want African landlords, you name it. I'm happy for all of em, as long as I get paid. :-)

Hi Landlord,

There are not that many at any one time - this is over a number of years in the business. The one thing I have never had is any 'anti gay' discrimination. It's all been racial or religious, especially religious amongst older Sikhs and Muslims.

If she officially changes her name, I don't see that there is any need to change the contract. My logic goes, if getting out of a contract was as easy as changing your name, contracts would be useless so surely the contract must continue whatever you're called.

That said the landlord should be notified in writing if bank & contact details need to be updated.

Hi, I wonder if anyone has advice for me.

I live with my partner and our close friend. My partner & I share a bedroom, our friend has her own. We have to move as our Landlord is looking to move back into his flat, and we found a new property we really really liked.

We applied to visit, and the lettings agents firstly told us that we couldn't look round because the landlord wouldn't allow an unmarried couple to stay in one room together.

I was gobsmacked to be told that in this day and age. Is this legal??

Thanks, Katy