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Controversial landlord who banned 'coloured' people from his properties says he would 'do it again'
A controversial landlord has defended his decision to ban ‘coloured’ people from his properties – and says that he would ‘do it again’.
Kent landlord Fergus Wilson sparked controversy yesterday after details of his policy banning ‘coloured people’ because of the smell of curry were leaked to the media.
An email sent to his letting agents revealed that Mr Wilson had made the ban after claiming that it had proved costly to remove the smell of curry at the end of their tenancy.
But despite facing action from The Equality and Human Rights Commission, Mr Wilson has remained unrepentant – and defended his actions.
Mr Wilson, who is worth £100 million, said: ‘It has transpired a disgruntled employee has decided to feed to the media details of a confidential email to Evolution Lettings where I stated I wanted no coloured tenants due to the problems we had experienced with curry smells.
‘Why the employee was disgruntled I am not privileged to. Clearly he was most upset about something.
‘There has been much support for the stance I have taken. I do not apologise for it. Faced with the same circumstances I would do it again.
‘I am not racist and my beef is with curry not with the colour of someone’s skin. I have merely taken an economic decision. It is the same with dog owners and smokers. I do not feel able to take them.’
Mr Wilson’s directive, which was issued in January, also banned tenants with children under 18, single adults, battered wives, tenants without a rent guarantee, people on housing benefit, low income workers, zero hour workers, plumbers, smokers and pet owners.
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Properties agent Evolution, which manages hundreds of Mr Wilson’s properties, has condemned the policy and said it would never implement it.
Roy Fever, manager at Evolution, said: ‘We don’t condone this at all. We would never implement a policy like that. We put through anyone to the landlord and it is up to the landlord who they take on.’
