The WRC rejected a tenant's Equal Status complaint against a letting agency over rental application questions and a retained deposit. The decision was dated 12 April 2017.
The tenant said a form asking whether he had children and requests for work and income references were discriminatory. He also alleged victimisation, saying the deposit was retained after he notified the agency of a possible Equal Status complaint. The agency said he had been offered the flat and that the landlord, who was the beneficiary of the deposit, retained it to cover re-letting costs.
The adjudication officer found no prima facie case of discrimination, noting that the tenant supplied the information and was offered the lease. The officer found the deposit decision was made for financial reasons before the agency received the ES-1 form.