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<p>We do not have any plans at present to bring forward legislative changes to the
Equality Act. The Government appreciates the problems that housing benefit claimants
can sometimes face in finding accommodation in the private rented sector. We strongly
encourage landlords and agents to look at all potential and existing tenants claiming
housing benefit on an individual basis and published a new How to Let guide on 26
June to help landlords better understand their rights and responsibilities. At present,
the English Housing Survey Headline Report 2016-17 (published February 2018) shows
that 22 per cent of households privately renting are in receipt of housing benefit.
This suggests that it is possible for claimants to access the sector.</p><p>A number
of other MHCLG policies work to combat discrimination and unfair practices. These
include the introduction, in April 2018, of banning orders and a rogue landlord database
designed to remove the worst landlords from the sector. On 2 July we launched a consultation
seeking views on how to overcome the barriers to longer tenancies to ensure that all
tenants have the security that they want and need. Further, since October 2014, all
letting and managing agents in England have been required to belong to a Government
approved redress scheme, giving tenants access to free dispute resolution where problems,
including those related to discrimination, occur in relation to their agent.</p><p>In
addition, we are committed to regulating letting agents and requiring them to meet
minimum training standards and comply with a code of practice, which will include
treating all tenants equally. We will also require all landlords to be members of
a redress scheme to ensure that all tenants, not just those who use agents, have access
to quick and easy dispute resolution when things go wrong. Our eight week consultation
on strengthening redress in housing closed on 16 April. We are analysing responses
with a view to publishing a Government response in the Autumn.</p>
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