could we get in trouble?

[BabyMamma93]

so i work in a letting agent, for those that dont know we rent out houses.
The guy who owns the office and most of the properties has turned down interested people, these people have been totally honest.
One of which we have in the houses we (me and my boss) manage (2 business' in one office) there was a old man and a young woman, she is a prostitute, she works at the local 'massage parlour they told us this before they moved in and we was fine with it as long as the house is clean and tidy and the rent is paid, its also in the tenancy agreement not to run a business from the property without written consent (yes prostitution will class as running a business)
so these tenants were looking for a bigger house, i asked the other guy if he had any and he said he does, but not for them.
he then also said no to another person, because she is a prostitute too, he said he doesnt want 'those people' in his houses.
today a old guy came in, he said that he is here for his grandson, his grandson is a black guy who is currently in jail, he has served a year sentence and is out in January, he said he will be his guarantor and pay his bond for him. now my boss and the other guy have both told me to loose the number, we wont be offering them a house due to him being in prison.
IMO hes served his sentence, why should be deny him of a house, and now im thinking surely they can get done for turning people away who can afford the property, just because of their back ground? then i thought well no because its our decision who we let in the houses..

 

[Bekah78]

I'm guessing they don't want trouble bringing to their door. Or for their properties to be targeted due to the occupants. I don't know the legalities but would think you have the right to chose your tenants. Doesn't make it morally right though.

 

[LoveCakes]

I'm pretty sure this would fall under discrimination law. There was a case a few years ago about a b&b owner who refused to let a gay couple stay. Basically you can't discriminate by withholding goods or services. It eould be tricky for them to prove it without your help but yes I think you could end up in trouble if someone decided to take a case against the business.

 

[BabyMamma93]

i was thinking that. i mean in this circumstance, i think it might be a little different, i mean its okay to turn a tenant down because they are on benefits. i get why a landlord wouldnt want a ex criminal in his property, i guess its the same with employers, they can turn down a ex convict, right?
i suppose if we were to turn away a gay couple, or a foreign family for a property that would be discrimination, but idk if this would fall under it too. i guess im just nicer than these guys, i would have given him a chance, same with the prostitutes.

 

[catty]

I worked at an estate agents and the company chose not to rent out the properties to anyone on housing benefits, people with pets etc
At the end of the day it is their property and if they think it might be damaged by this person i think they are within their rights to say no ( i could be completely wrong of course)
At my work it was the landlord that chose the tenant out of the application forms we provided and rthey could be as discriminative as they wanted really, wed never tell them that though just say someone else got it

 

[BabyMamma93]

thats what i was thinking, we can turn down people on housing benefit or with pets, but its me that has to do the dirty work of telling people no, and most of the time they know why, so i dont want to be caught in the middle of something if it ever went sour lol you know like dont shoot the messenger sort of thing haha