locked out: Single parent discirmination in the UK’s rental sector
the research
The housing crisis disproportionately impacts the UK’s 3.2 million single parent families. To uncover the reality of single parents in private rentals, we surveyed over 400 single parents and reviewed wider evidence. The findings are clear: single parents are being locked out of the private rental sector due to discrimination and unaffordable rents.
Key Findings
65% of single parents face discrimination when trying to rent privately.
75% of children in single parent families who are renting and in receipt of UC are living in poverty
Over two-thirds of single parent families face a shortfall in their Local Housing Allowance rate, with an average monthly shortfall of £250
95% of single parents want to see greater legal protections for single parent families
what needs to change
Single parents need greater protections and a social security system that supports, rather than punishes them:
Protect single parents in law from rental discrimination
Increase the Local housing allowance
End the benefit cap which pushes many into temporary accommodation
Build more social housing
Introduce rent controls
report, briefing and press release
You can download the full report and the press release for our report below.
write to your mp
The housing crisis faced by single parent families is not inevitable, but the result of longstanding policy failures and systemic bias. As the report starkly reveals, these barriers not only threaten the security and wellbeing of millions of families, but also put children’s development and futures at risk. Single parents and their children deserve safe, stable, and affordable homes. The government must act now to end discrimination and make the private rental sector fair for everyone.
You can use this template to write to your MP to ask them to help secure greater rights and support for single parent families.
“Dear [insert MP name],
I am a member of your constituency and I am writing to you as [e.g. a single parent/ a single parent ally/ an adult raised by a single parent] about the discrimination that single parents face in private rentals. New research conducted by the campaign group Single Parent Rights has shown how single parents are being locked out of the private rental sector by discrimination and unaffordable rent.
Their research revealed that:
65% of single parents face discrimination when trying to rent privately
75% of children in single parent families who are renting and in receipt of UC are living in poverty
Over two-thirds of single parent families face a shortfall in their Local Housing Allowance rate, with an average monthly shortfall of £250
95% of single parents want to see greater legal protections for single parent families
A safe and secure home is essential for any family, that’s why I stand with the campaign group Single Parent Rights to call on the government to provide greater support for single parent renters, including:
Protect single parents in law from rental discrimination
Increase the Local housing allowance
End the benefit cap which pushes many into temporary accommodation
Build more social housing
Introduce rent controls
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter and how you plan to ensure this government provides better support to single parent families.
Yours sincerely,
[insert name and postcode (your MP won’t be able to respond unless you can show you are a constituent of theirs)]”
find your mp
You can find your local MP here.
views from single parents
“Private landlord threatened me with a series of abusive calls, threats of violence [and] silent calls.”
"I was served a Section 21 notice while pregnant. I had to move with a newborn baby. It was traumatic and destabilising for my older child who had to change schools."
"It should be legally discriminatory to even ask if someone is a single parent!"
"My daughter started having nightmares about being homeless. She's seven years old. No child should have to worry about that."
"We had to rent in an awful location, awful flat. It wasn't suitable but [was the] only place who would take us."
“I was told by the estate agent that the landlord would rather have a 2 parent family rather than a single parent family renting their property.”
“I was repeatedly refused viewings on the basis that I was a single mother.”
“There seems to be a blanket 'no' from letting agents when you say you're a single parent.”
“I was asked for 12 months rent upfront, a UK based guarantor, or simply refused.”
“I was even told we are not offering property to single parents on benefits.”
“Agencies were brutal, they will put the phone down hearing I was a single parent”
“It’s a constant every day worry in regard to having the money to meet my rent. Well I pay my rent first, but I then have no money for the rest of my expenses.”