One of Britain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s biggest buy-to-let landlords, Fergus Wilson, has listed his requirements of potential tenants. In a leaked email to one of his lettings agents, Evolution, Mr Wilson wrote: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
When Mr Wilson was challenged about the ban, he said that he was: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153getting overloaded with coloured people\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is a problem with certain types of coloured people \u00e2\u20ac\u201d those who consume curry \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it sticks to the carpet.\u00c2\u00a0 You have to get some chemical thing that takes the smell out. \u00c2\u00a0In extreme cases you have to replace the carpet.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Mr Wilson admitted instructing Evolution not to take \u00e2\u20ac\u0153coloured\u00e2\u20ac\u009d people.<\/p>\n
The anti-racism group Hope Not Hate<\/em> has called for prosecution, but police say he hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t committed a criminal offence.\u00c2\u00a0 However, racial discrimination does breach civil law and Mr\u00c2\u00a0Wilson could be sued by tenants or rights\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 groups.<\/p>\n Roy Fever of Evolution has made a statement saying that the agency does not condone Mr\u00c2\u00a0Wilson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s comments.\u00c2\u00a0 He said: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We would never implement a policy like that.\u00c2\u00a0 We put through anyone to the landlord and it is up to the landlord who they take on.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Mr Wilson has a history of causing offence and in January he banned pet owners, single mothers, battered wives and low income families from renting his properties \u00e2\u20ac\u201c as well as plumbers.<\/p>\n He has previously been quoted as saying: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have said nothing against lesbians and homosexuals or coloureds.\u00c2\u00a0 As long as they can pay the rent.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Mr Wilson has refused to apologise for his comments and defended his actions, saying: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Like any business, we are consistently fine tuning.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Mr Wilson is said to be selling his property portfolio, thought to be worth \u00c2\u00a3250 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"