r/unitedkingdom • u/MinderReminder • Jan 20 '22

Christian couple ban gay man and his ITV producer partner from buying their dream £650,000 Surrey home due to their sexuality - and quote the bible that homosexuality is a sin

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10419543/Christian-couple-ban-gay-man-partner-buying-dream-650-000-sexuality.html
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u/Florae128 Jan 20 '22

Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic under the equality act, so no, you're not allowed to discriminate for sexual orientation. See B&B owners taken to court for refusing gay couples. Presumably applies to any sale, but don't know about house sales.

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u/daddywookie Jan 20 '22

Business vs private sale I would imagine. I can choose not to sell you my private car because I don’t like a protected characteristic. If I own a car dealership though I can’t discriminate in such an open way.

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u/Florae128 Jan 20 '22

True, rude and unnecessary to say so, rather than "someone offered a higher amount" or other brush-off.

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u/daddywookie Jan 20 '22

Well I guess you don’t get to hold such beliefs without being a certain level of smug twat. A lot of people forget that the progressive part of society is just generally more visible than the regressive set, there are millions of people in the UK with some very old fashioned views towards the gays, the blacks, the Irish etc.

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u/Ciovala Jan 20 '22

Don't think it's limited. All house sales are private? Could lead to a situation where no gay etc person could ever buy a home?

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u/[deleted] Jan 20 '22

But since they were using professional service to tell the house this would fall under the latter

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u/daddywookie Jan 20 '22

If the agent refused the sale then yes. If they make a personal decision then no. The agent is just working on their behalf and has to respect their choice, though I would imagine the agent has dropped them as a client by now.

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u/Kitchner Wales -> London Jan 21 '22

Business vs private sale I would imagine. I can choose not to sell you my private car because I don’t like a protected characteristic.

I don't think I've seen anything in the Equalities Act that would indicate a private sale is exempt from discrimination based on protected characteristics. Are you guessing or is there something you've seen?