Can my landlord refuse to rent to me because I get benefits?

No. Since 1 May 2026, it is illegal for a landlord or letting agent to refuse to rent to someone solely because they receive benefits. This is one of the protections introduced by the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

"No DSS" policies — where landlords or agents would flatly refuse to consider anyone claiming Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or other payments — are now specifically banned. A landlord who rejects your application purely because you're on benefits can be reported and fined by the local council, up to £7,000 for a first offence.

A landlord can still choose a tenant based on legitimate factors — like whether your income (including benefits) covers the rent, or a referencing check. What they cannot do is use "on benefits" as a blanket disqualification before even considering you.

If you believe you've been turned down purely because of your benefits status, ask for the reason in writing. If the response (or lack of one) suggests benefits discrimination, report it to your local council's housing enforcement team.

You can also report to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as benefits discrimination often intersects with race and disability discrimination (since disabled people and certain ethnic groups are disproportionately more likely to be on benefits).