Young People Face Homelessness Due to Age Discrimination in Rental Market
Vulnerable young people across the United Kingdom are finding themselves trapped in homelessness, unsafe living conditions, or reliant on crisis services because of what charities describe as an "unfair" and discriminatory rental sector. Exclusive research from youth homelessness charity EveryYouth reveals that landlords are systematically rejecting applicants based on their age, profession, lack of a guarantor, or association with homelessness services.
Survey Highlights Widespread Discrimination
EveryYouth, which coordinates a network of ten youth homelessness charities nationwide, conducted a survey showing that young renters face significant barriers. The primary issue is the absence of a family member who can act as a guarantor, affecting 90 percent of cases. Additionally, 70 percent face discrimination due to their income level, even when they can demonstrably afford the rent. This systemic exclusion forces many into precarious situations despite their financial stability.
Personal Stories of Struggle
Kalvin, an 18-year-old originally from Glasgow, moved to Devon for a fresh start, working as an apprentice in the motor trade industry. Despite earning approximately £1,000 per month—enough to cover the average £597 rent for a one-bedroom flat in North Devon or a house share—he was repeatedly turned away by landlords. "There have been multiple occasions where I’d see a place I really, really liked and they wouldn’t accept me because I was too young," Kalvin explained. "It was very difficult to get somewhere that I could stay and call home." After a period of rough sleeping while employed, he now resides in supported accommodation provided by the Amber Foundation, part of the EveryYouth network, where he is pursuing educational opportunities in IT.
Similarly, Rosie, a 19-year-old working full-time at a pub in Hampshire, left an abusive household at 17 and moved into supported accommodation through Step by Step, another EveryYouth partner. When seeking independent housing, it took eight months to find a landlord who would accept her. "I was consistently turned down because of my age or because Step by Step was put on my application," she said. "One landlord did outright tell me they didn’t want to take me because 'they know what kind of people end up in Step by Step.'" Rosie emphasized the frustration of being judged on age rather than her steady employment and ability to pay rent.
New Legislation and Its Limitations
From May this year, the Renters’ Rights Act, spearheaded by former housing minister and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, will introduce new protections. These include making it illegal for landlords to refuse tenants based on benefit receipt or having children, and requiring legal justification for evictions. However, Nicholas Connolly, CEO of EveryYouth, expressed "real concern" that these measures may not adequately protect young renters and could inadvertently exacerbate their challenges. "It’ll put greater obligations on landlords, and ultimately they will try harder to avoid those obligations," Connolly warned. "And there are so many ways that they can discriminate legally."
Connolly highlighted that many young people supported by EveryYouth have no savings, minimal familial support, and limited options beyond the private rental sector due to a lack of social housing. "Unless there is some additional support that recognises that they don’t have the social or economic capital that other people in society have, they will just not be able to get anywhere to live," he added.
Calls for Stronger Protections and Incentives
EveryYouth is advocating for the government to enhance protections against age-based discrimination by imposing meaningful penalties on landlords who engage in such practices. The charity also urges the implementation of incentives, such as council-backed guarantor schemes or deposit assistance programs, to encourage landlords to rent to vulnerable young people, thereby facilitating their transition from temporary accommodation.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government responded, stating, "Discrimination against anyone based on their age is completely unacceptable. Through the Renters’ Rights Act we’ve already taken action to stop discrimination against people who are receiving benefits or have young children. We will keep action under review to extend these powers so we can make sure everyone has a safe and decent home."
Despite these assurances, the ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for more robust measures to ensure that young people, like Kalvin and Rosie, are not left homeless due to systemic biases in the rental market.
