‘No coloured people because of the curry smell’: UK’s biggest landlord investigated over ‘disgusting remark’
Landlord Fergus Wilson, who owns nearly 1,000 homes, has previously banned domestic violence victims and single parents
The British equalities watchdog has threatened Fergus Wilson, reputedly Britain’s biggest landlord, with legal action after he reportedly tried to ban “coloured” tenants from his properties.
Wilson, who owns nearly 1,000 homes across Ashford and Maidstone in Kent, is said to have told a lettings agency, Evolution, that “coloured” people leave a smell in his property.
The directive, seen by the Sun newspaper, reportedly reads: “No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy.”
Rebecca Hilsenrath, the chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the watchdog would be investigating the comments and warning Wilson that he could face legal action.
“These are truly disgusting remarks as well as being unlawful instructions from a landlord to a letting agent,” she said. “There are still deep inequalities in our society as our race report demonstrated and these comments show why.
It is a problem with certain types of coloured people – those who consume curry
“As a country we all assume we have left the dark ages behind, but clearly there is more to be done. We will investigate and will be asking Mr Wilson to explain his actions. Unless we are satisfied that he will not commit unlawful acts in the future we will take legal action”.