Controversial Kent landlord Fergus Wilson’s policy of not renting properties to tenant of Indian origin because of the “curry smells” has been judged unlawful at Maidstone Magistrate’s Court following a case brought by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The landlord, who at one point is said to have rented out over 1,000 properties in and around Ashford and Maidstone in Kent, had previously said the reason for his ban was “because of the cost of removing the smell of curry at the end of their tenancy”.

His singular approach to renting emerged when Trevor emailed his letting agent Evolution Properties and – he contends jokingly – outlined why he didn’t want to rent properties to curry-cooking tenants.

It argued that refusing to rent or let a property based on someone’s race breached section 13 of the Equality Act 2010.

The judge agreed despite Trevor’s comments that his ban was based on economic rather than racial grounds.

Injunction passed

An injunction was passed banning him from applying criteria discriminating against “coloured” tenants or those of Indian or Pakistan backgrounds, Kent Online reports.

This is not the first time Fergus Wilson has been in court. In 2014 he was accused of punching lettings agent Daniel Wells of PLS Property Lettings & Sales in Folkestone.

During the trial he was found guilty of assault despite arguing that Daniel was not injured and that the letting agent had instead fallen out of his chair.

The buy-to-let landlord also has controversial views on other types of tenants, and in a separate note to Evolution Properties in January this year, highlighted the groups he didn’t want to let properties to.

These included tenants with children, single parents, tenants in receipt of benefits, low income workers, single adults, plumbers, smokers or those with pets.