Emma has backed a leading housing charity’s calls to end landlords discriminating against families on housing benefit.

Research by housing charity Shelter revealed that thousands of renters across the country are being refused the opportunity to rent a home because the letting agent or landlord refuses to accept tenants who receive housing benefit – or DSS.

Backing Shelter’s End DSS Discrimination Campaign, Emma said:

“It is unfair and acceptable that Landlords are refusing to accept tenants on DSS. Across the country, one in three renters have not been able to rent a home because they receive DSS. This is straightforward discrimination.

“Landlords and letting agencies should decide whether someone can afford a home on a case-by-case basis – not because some of the money they receive is in the form of housing benefit.”