Fórsa has welcomed a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication, which found that rental adverts on the property website daft.ie were discriminatory. The WRC said the ads discriminated on the grounds of housing status, age and family status.

The decision, which follows a three-year legal action by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), has likely implications for other Irish platforms hosting discriminatory content.

The case, which was taken under the Equal Status Act, concerned adverts that featured terms like “rent allowance not accepted,” “suit family or professionals only,” “would suit young professionals,” and “references required.”

Fórsa equality officer Andy Pike said the decision vindicated the rights of prospective tenants.

“We are especially pleased to note the inclusion of a prohibition on adverts stating that prospective tenants on rent supplement or other benefits will not be accepted by landlords. This highlights the risks faced by those on low incomes who may be at more risk of homelessness because of landlords’ discrimination,” he said.

The full text of the decision is available HERE.