A letting agent in Hertfordshire has withdrawn a property listing after it stated that tenants would not be able to register to vote at the address, prompting criticism from tenant advocacy groups and a local MP.
The two-bedroom cottage in Graveley was marketed by Mather Estates at £1,450 per month on a six-month tenancy. The listing included the statement: “Council tax is included – a new tenant will not be able to register for voting.”
Industry response
Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Chief Executive of Generation Rent, described the advert as “a good concrete example of challenges renters face”. He noted that whilst landlords sometimes impose restrictions on tenants, they rarely make them explicit in public listings. “This is a red flag for the listing. The big surprise is the letting agency thinks it’s OK to show in the advert,” he said.
Alister Strathern, Labour MP for Hitchin, said: “It’s outrageous that potential tenants could be blocked from registering to vote. I’m glad the agent withdrew the advert after my office got in touch.”
Administrative issue cited
Paul Mather, Managing Director of Mather Estates, told The i Paper that the property was “incorrectly listed and launched too early, as it wasn’t separately listed for council tax yet”. He explained this would have prevented tenants from immediately registering on the electoral roll from that address.
The property is a new-build on land attached to an existing property and had not yet been registered as a separate address with the local council. Mather stated: “The property has now been withdrawn until correctly registered.”
The incident highlights the administrative complexities that can arise with new-build rental properties and the potential implications for tenant rights. Rightmove, where the listing appeared, did not respond to requests for comment.
