By Luke Andrews For Mailonline
Published: 15:31 BST, 5 April 2019 | Updated: 15:31 BST, 5 April 2019
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A 28-year-old hair stylist claims she was not allowed to rent a property because of her gender.
Lorna Pearce said that when she asked letting agency SAMS Accommodation about a maisonette in Plymouth, Devon, she was told she could only rent it if she could move in with a man.
She says the agency said this is because of a request from the landlord, and the position of door into the property.
A manager at the agency was unable to deny the claim and said they were investigating.
Lorna Pearce, 28, claims she was not allowed to rent a property because of her gender
The Manager at SAMS Accommodation, which is based above a Pizza King and general store, was not able to deny the claim but said they weren't aware of a property not available to a single lady
Lorna, who is in a relationship with a woman, said she was outraged that she was refused the property 'purely because of my gender'.
She said: '[The agent] said ‘the problem is the landlord requested a male and female couple to move in’.
'I couldn’t believe it. It’s really strange.'
When Lorna ran back to double-check she was told: 'The landlord requested as due to safety I would need a man present to keep me safe.
'I’m shocked to be honest. It’s 2019.
'Not only is it completely wrong, as a business they shouldn’t accept that behaviour.'
