A LEADING letting agents in Oxfordshire at the centre of discrimination accusations swiftly deleted alarming references to housing benefits on its website following an investigation from the Oxford Mail.

A review of James Gesner estate agents' listings showed that some requirements for potential tenants on its website could be unlawful and discriminatory against people in receipt of benefits.

These included that renters needed to be working on a permanent contract of employment and earning a minimum 30 times the monthly rent, which in some case amounted to nearly £40,000.

Oxford Mail:

This follows concerns shared by one anonymous renter who alerted the newspaper about the company with offices in Didcot, Wallingford and London, declining tenants on benefits.

They said: "They are unlawfully blanket banning pets and declining tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit.

"Charities such as Shelter have used so much energy to stop these discrimination from occurring, but here a Didcot estate agent is publicly declaring they are not compatible with common law from court precedents."

A year after the first landmark court ruling declaring housing benefit discrimination in England unlawful, renters are still being locked out of properties across Oxfordshire.

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Following persistent enquiries the company removed any reference to housing benefits from all its listings and director James Gesner confirmed that all advertisements are currently being reviewed to ensure they are up to date with current legislation.

He added: "We will be reviewing all applicants on an individual basis.

"We do take instructions from our landlords – some of whom stipulate the criteria which is sometimes necessary to satisfy their lender.

"The income threshold of 30 times the monthly rent is set by the majority of referencing companies used by all letting agents, and ensures that the applicant can afford the rent, along with other household bills without causing them any financial hardship.

"We feel it is our duty of care to tenants to ensure they can afford the property before they pay any holding deposit of the property."

Mr Gesner also denied that the agency has a blanket ban on pets.

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However, the company currently advertises a dozen properties for rent across South Oxfordshire on Zoopla and none of them have been listed as 'pet friendly', even though the majority of them are unfurnished and some boast spacious gardens.

The director commented: "We have never had a blanket ban on pets, we take instructions from our landlords to encourage not to refuse a request for a pet but have to consider the suitability of the property and the welfare of the animal."