Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to prevent landlords from discriminating against people on the basis that they are in receipt of benefits.

We strongly encourage landlords and agents to look at all potential and existing tenants in receipt of housing benefit on an individual basis and we will shortly be publishing a new How to Let guide to help landlords better understand their responsibilities.

Legislation exists to prohibit acts of discrimination against individuals in terms of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity.