Can my landlord refuse to rent to me because I have children?

No. Refusing to rent to someone because they have children is now explicitly illegal under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Landlords and letting agents cannot use "no children" as a reason to reject an application.

Previously, "no children" was common practice and largely went unchallenged. The new law specifically closes this loophole, treating it the same as other unlawful discrimination. A landlord who refuses a prospective tenant because they have children can be fined up to £7,000 by the local council.

A landlord can still decline a tenancy on legitimate grounds — for example, if the property is genuinely too small for a family, or if affordability checks fail. What they can't do is refuse based on the simple fact of having children.

If you've been told "no children" — verbally or in writing — ask the landlord or agent to explain the reason in writing. If the explanation still points to the children rather than a legitimate property or financial reason, that's a complaint to your local council's housing team.

Keep any written evidence: adverts that say "no children," emails or messages where children were cited as the reason for rejection. That's what you'll need when making a complaint.