Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to stopping property guardian companies refusing applicants on the basis of being (1) on Universal Credit, or (2) in receipt of local council housing allowance support.

Landlords have tools to assess applicants looking to rent or occupy a property, such as through referencing checks. The Government encourages landlords to make sure that these checks are proportionate. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether any given tenancy or a licence to occupy a property will be suitable or sustainable.

Through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, we have taken direct action to make clear that private landlords must stop discriminatory practices against households with children or receiving benefits in the private rented sector. While these measures do not apply to licenses to occupy, the Department continues to monitor trends across the private rented sector and is conducting a robust evaluation of the impact of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.