Research by FCC Paragon reveals that one in 10 parents who rent their home feel that they have been discriminated against when trying to secure a new home simply for having children.
FCC Paragon commissioned a survey of 1,000 parents who rent their current home and found that most of them are heavily reliant on the rental market, with 83% of respondents stating that they’ve been renting for 10 years or more.
The majority of respondents are a parent to two children (36%), while 29% have one child, 20% have three, 10% have four, and 5% have five or more children.
Four out of 10 (41%) respondents say they have faced difficulties when trying to find a suitable property for the size and requirements of their family and one in 10 (11%) say that they have felt discriminated against during their property search based on the fact that they have children.
DAMAGE CONTROL
This is despite the fact that just 5% believe that their children have ever caused damage to a rented property.
The proposed Renter’s Rights Bill (RRB) contains a number of measures to eliminate discrimination from the renting experience, including that targeted at parents and families.
The Bill aims to prohibit any sort of blanket bans on tenants in the private rented sector, based on background or personal circumstances, including families with children, or those who receive government benefits.
While landlords and letting agents will still have the final say on who they do and do not choose to rent their properties to, the RRB will insist that all tenants are judged on an individual basis, rather than being refused on the basis of broad ‘no kids’ or ‘no DSS’ policies.
CHALLENGING
Bekki Leaves, Managing Director of FCC Paragon, says: “Raising a family on the rental market can be challenging. Not only do you have to secure an affordable property that is large enough to accommodate all family members, but you’re also going to be in competition with people who don’t have children.
“When given the choice between renting to a family with young kids, or a professional couple without, for example, some landlords are likely going to opt for the latter simply because it’s perceived that they’re less likely to cause damage or disturbance in the property.”
EVICTION POSSIBILITY
And she adds: “Then, of course, there is the issue of feeling secure in the home. Tenants have long lived with the possibility that a landlord will choose to evict them based on no fault of their own, and this can be particularly difficult and distressing for people with children, especially when you consider the issue of school catchment areas.
“If the proposed Renter’s Rights Bill can contribute towards improving accessibility and security for parents on the rental market, it will be a positive step welcomed by all.”
