Bans on children break code, ombudsman rules

Blanket bans on letting properties to families with children discriminate against women and are against the sector’s code of practice, the property ombudsman has ruled, after a challenge from a mother of four.

Lexi Levens, 33, and her family were forced to register as homeless after they were handed a no-fault eviction on Christmas Eve and no landlords or letting agents would rent to them. Levens took her case to the ombudsman, which decided “no children” bans breach equality rules because they disproportionately affect women.