Zoopla refuses 'no housing benefit' rental ads on its platform

Market data provider and property marketplace, Zoopla, has shut the door on adverts that refuse to take renters on housing benefits.

The National Housing Federation found one in ten adverts on Zoopla specified "no DSS" or "no housing benefit". The National Landlords Association (NLA) and Residential Landlord's Association (RLA) have said the blanket restrictions should not be used. Zoopla will now specifically prohibit "No DSS" restrictions and remove the "No DSS" fields on its software.

Charlie Bryant, managing director of Zoopla, said: "We fully support the recommendations of the NLA and the RLA, which oppose blanket bans against tenants in receipt of housing-related benefits, and are pleased to be taking action which clarifies this position."

The move follows increasing pressure on mortgage lenders, insurers, property agents and property ad sites not to discriminate against people on benefits.

This month NatWest Bank said it would change its restrictions on buy-to-let mortgages - which in one case led to a landlord receiving a demand for the revocation of an existing mortgage while being refused a re-mortgage after she rented the property to a tenant on housing benefits.

Zoopla is one of the UK's most comprehensive property website, focused on empowering users with the resources they need to make better-informed property decisions. They help consumers both find their next home and research the market by combining hundreds of thousands of property listings with market data, local information and community tools.

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