Renting privately
Finding private rented accommodation may create problems for an LGBT person if they reveal their sexuality.
Equality Act and landlords
The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for landlords to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation. [1] However, there is a 'small premises exemption', which means that a landlord letting a room in her/his house would be exempt from the regulations. [2] For more information, please see the section on discrimination in private rented accommodation.
A tenant or licensee who shares accommodation with her/his landlord often only has to be given reasonable notice to quit. For more information, please see the section on common law tenancies. A lesbian or a gay man who has a resident landlord would therefore be much more vulnerable to eviction.
It may be helpful to approach organisations such as Lesbian/Gay Switchboards that compile lists of lesbian/gay landlords looking for lesbian/gay tenants, or to look in the lesbian and gay press.
Last updated: 11 December 2019