ACORN North West region

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ACORN's North West region contains the Branches and Groups Manchester and Liverpool, as well as many other members in other towns and cities, all fighting campaigns on the issues that matter to them. Join in with an action near you so we can win.

We are stronger together.

ACORN's North West region contains the Branches and Groups Manchester and Liverpool, as well as many other members in other towns and cities, all fighting campaigns on the issues that matter to them. Join in with an action near you so we can win.

We are stronger together.

Liverpool City Council: End Housing Benefit Discrimination. Say “Yes to DSS”

Housing benefit discrimination, often called ‘DSS discrimination’, is the illegal practice of lettings agents and landlords actively excluding or overlooking people on housing related benefits from renting their properties. Despite being illegal, this is still a huge problem in our city. Our research shows up to 80% of rental listings in Merseyside on OpenRent exclude DSS applicants. In addition to overt discrimination, there are also many common covert barriers, such as insisting on a guarantor or 6 months rent upfront, or through imposing ‘affordability checks’ that automatically fail benefits recipients.

ACORN Liverpool believes this has to change. It’s already difficult enough to find somewhere to live in our unjust and exploitative housing market, without these unnecessary discriminatory practices. We are demanding that Liverpool City Council take action to stamp out DSS discrimination, and we will expose and shame landlords and estate agents who continue illegal practices.

We call on Liverpool Council to adopt policies and practices to end overt and covert housing benefit discrimination.

We call on Liverpool Council to adopt policies and practices to end overt and covert housing benefit discrimination, including meeting the following demands:

Establish, promote and resource a system for public to report instances of housing benefit discrimination, and for council officers to investigate and respond. This should include access to legal representation. The system should be accessible online and offline via One Stop Shops.

Make amendments to the Landlord Licensing Scheme to prohibit and fine landlords culpable of housing benefit discrimination.

To introduce a Deposit Guarantee Scheme including the powers to support tenants with deposit payments, provide local government bonds and/or act as guarantor

Create a ‘Code of Conduct’ policy for landlords/letting agencies to include minimum standards on issues including: tenant security, ending s.21 evictions and ending housing benefit discrimination.

Record and publish data on issue of housing benefit discrimination.

Write to Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Michael Gove MP) to call for more powers to tackle housing benefit discrimination, including power to prohibit landlords requiring guarantors/excessive upfront rent from tenants. An increase in Local Housing Allowance in line with real market rents should also be called for.

Publicly endorse ACORN’s campaign and sign ACORN’s open letter to letting agents and landlords.

Council’s leads on housing to meet with ACORN Liverpool on quarterly basis.

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