My name is Imeh Godwin, and I am disabled and on benefits. Recently, I was given an eviction order and have been desperately trying to find a new home. But every estate agent and landlord I’ve approached has refused to rent to me.

Why? Because I am on benefits. They tell me my income is “not enough”  even though my benefits are meant to help cover the cost of living, including rent. They demand a guarantor who owns a home and earns at least £34,000 a year before I can rent a one-bedroom apartment of £800 a month. I don’t have anyone in my life who fits that description.

This means I cannot rent even a one-bedroom flat that costs £800 to £950 a month. Instead, I’ve been forced from one guest house to another. It’s unstable, stressful, and expensive. I feel trapped, punished simply because I rely on benefits to survive. And I know I am not alone. Thousands of people in the UK are facing the same unfair barriers every day.

The Problem
Across the country, people on benefits, including the homeless, disabled, single parents, and others in vulnerable situations, are being denied the right to rent a safe home. Landlords and estate agents use blanket “No DSS” bans, unfair minimum income rules, or guarantor demands that most vulnerable people cannot possibly meet. This discrimination makes life harder for those who are already struggling the most.

Why This Is Wrong

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to indirectly discriminate against groups such as women and disabled people, yet courts have found that “No DSS” policies do exactly that.
The Human Rights Act 1998 protects the right to respect for home and family life, which is undermined when benefit claimants are systematically excluded from renting.
The Housing Act 1996 requires councils to help the homeless find accommodation, but discriminatory rental practices make this almost impossible.

Our Demands
We urge the Government to:

Ban blanket refusals of tenants who receive benefits.
End arbitrary minimum income requirements that exclude benefit claimants.
Create a government-backed alternative for tenants unable to provide guarantors.
Strengthen enforcement and penalties for landlords and agents who continue to discriminate.

Why It Matters
Housing is a basic human right. People on benefits deserve the same chance as working tenants to secure a home and live with dignity. Discrimination in the rental market is unlawful, unjust, and unacceptable, and it must end.

👉 Sign this petition now to stand against housing discrimination and demand fair access to homes for everyone. Together, we can create change.