High rents drive rise in older flatsharers
2 months ago
Call to fine landlords who discriminate against young renters
9:16 AM, 24th February 2026, 1 month ago
23
Young people attempting to move from homelessness accommodation into private rented housing are facing widespread landlord discrimination, charities warn.
Organisations in the EveryYouth Network argue that the Renters’ Rights Act fails to address housing access barriers.
It is now calling for financial penalties to be introduced for landlords and agents found to be discriminating against young renters.
It also wants enforcement mechanisms that do not rely solely on tenant complaints.
Lack of guarantor issues
The Network’s chief executive, Nicholas Connolly, said: “Charities in our network urge the government to record and monitor refusal patterns among landlords to identify discrimination, allow anonymous reporting of discriminatory practises, and create government-backed or local authority backed guarantor schemes to prevent blanket refusals based solely on a young person’s lack of a guarantor.”
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, landlords in England will be prohibited from refusing tenants solely on the basis of receiving benefits or having children.
The charities say no equivalent statutory protections exist for young renters facing other forms of refusal.
Frontline support workers report concerns about landlord response to the reforms.
They include potential rent increases aimed at pricing out benefit recipients or the disposal of rental stock.
Young renters rejected
The network reports that young applicants are being rejected due to age, profession, current address, lack of a guarantor or income profile.
This then limits routes into independent living and extend the time spent in supported accommodation.
Discriminatory practises by landlords or letting agents over the past 12 months were reported by 77% of the 10 youth homelessness charities surveyed.
Charities highlight guarantor requirements as the biggest barrier, cited in 90% of cases.
Blanket rejections
Income thresholds followed at 70%, including instances where applicants were assessed as financially able to meet rental payments.
The charities warn that young applicants are receiving ‘blanket rejections’ from landlords.
The result is seeing some individuals turning to street homelessness, sofa surfing or informal living arrangements with safeguarding risks.
Charity workers also say awareness gaps remain, with young renters often unclear about their legal rights or how to challenge discriminatory treatment within the private rented sector.
Tags:
guarantor reform UK, homelessness charities housing, landlord discrimination young renters, private rented sector access, Renters’ Rights Act, youth homelessness UK
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
10:07 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
‘…young applicants are being rejected due to age, profession, current address, lack of a guarantor or income profile.’ Should just say… ‘applicants…’
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 201
11:26 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Young people are about 10 times more likely to wreck your property, and fail to pay rent.
That might put some landlords off.
Maybe something to do with it.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 761
11:46 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Income profile – is that just a fancy way of saying they cannot afford it?
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 201
11:51 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 24/02/2026 – 11:46
Nailed it!
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 365
11:55 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
It’s not “discriminatory” it’s all about a landlord selecting the best tenant for “his/her” property.
Just more woke left wing nonsense constantly bombarding landlords.
I have had good young tenants and not so good older tenants.
As for government/council guarantors I would trust these as much as i trust these organisations and we have seen how councils dump vulnerable tenants on landlords and then just walk away.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
12:02 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by David at 24/02/2026 – 11:55
In the eyes of a landlord, young applicants are no more discriminated against than any other age or profile. We just want tenants who are honest and decent, can and will pay all their rent on time, maintain ‘their’ home, treat their neighbours with respect, and leave the property as they found it when they vacate (on time).
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
12:11 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
No previous rental history is just as high a risk as known bad rental history. Age is irrelevant.
Member Since June 2015 - Comments: 330
1:11 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
I left home at 16 and a landlord took a chance on me, so my attitude is based on that experience. I’m more flexible than some on who I will rent to but there are times when an applicant just isn’t a good fit. They may well be ideal for another property though.
For me the suitability of the location has to make sense. I have to feel the location will be truly convenient for the applicant. That they can walk to many amenities and if they own a car, parking is readily available. That can mitigate against some affordability concerns.
Is the property self contained or an HMO? Especially in HMOs compatibility with existing tenants is crucial.
The fact the government has frozen LHA isn’t the fault of landlords. Wages have risen, benefits have risen, costs have risen but for some reason the government thinks it reasonable to freeze LHA at significantly below the cheapest available property rents. Totally bizarre.
Why doesn’t the government fund the building of student style accomodation for young people? Similar to the YMCA. Could it be because rents would have to be so much higher than LHA for such buildings to be remotely financial viable?
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
2:08 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 24/02/2026 – 13:11
its exactly the same reason why building truly social rent level accommodation is being rapidly replaced/out paced by ‘affordable’ accommodation.
No council/HA can make the numbers stack up by providing newly built accommodation at purely LHA rates.
The only way this can be subsidised, is if the majority of housing they provide is at 80% of market rate. The ‘profit’ can then be used to pay for the the running costs etc of both.
Obviously the reality is that this is not enough, and the councils/HA’s are still failing to ensure even their most basic of duties/legal compliance are kept up as a result. The rents are effectively capped, yet costs rising so there simply isn’t the money to do everything. Something has to give.
How many times do you read the Ombudsman stating X Council has failed in providing up to date electrical testing, gas certs etc for 100, 1000, 10,000 properties?
Adding in Aawabs Law means it’s going to bleed the accounts dry, as money is paid out to address the (current) crisis that is D&M. Councils are being challenged by tenants funded by LA/tenpence solicitors for large sums for delays in dealing with repairs etc. Money flowing out, not in.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1575
3:35 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Perhaps the (ahem) charities could use some of their free money to buy some properties to let to high-risk groups. Sounds like a fabulous business model.
For me, no more tenants at all. When the current lot leave, I’m out.