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Gay couple wins £5,000 damages after estate agent prints 'lesbians' on advert for their house
Last updated at 16:58pm on 29.07.08
When Suzanne Richards and Sarah Dobinson decided to sell their £650,000 home, they expected professional service from their estate agents.
Instead, they were left feeling ‘insulted and violated’ after a staff member outed them as a same-sex couple in a website advertisement.
Logging on to check how their period home was being marketed, they were horrified to find the word ‘lesbians’ in the space where prospective buyers would expect to see a reference number.
Suzanne Richards and Sarah Dobinson were 'shaking with disbelief' when an estate agent added the word "lesbians" to an internet advert for their home
Jackson-Stops & Staff estate agency in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, settled out of court after 'outing' their clients
And after they contacted estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff to complain, they received a letter which said: ‘We fail to see how we have discriminated against you.’
The firm has now paid a £5,000 out-of-court settlement after the couple threatened to sue them for injury to feelings caused by discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The company, which has more than 50 branches, has also said that staff will be given diversity training.
Miss Richards said yesterday: ‘We were both shaking with disbelief and in tears when we read the property reference. We felt so violated.’
She added: ‘Publicly linking our home address with our sexuality could have ruined our lives.’
Miss Richards, 36, and Miss Dobinson, 44, who are both graphic designers, decided to put their home near Sudbury, Suffolk, on the market in February.
Three employees from a local branch of Jackson-Stops & Staff inspected the property and an advert was subsequently placed on the Rightmove property website, where the offending comment appeared. It is believed it was placed there as a joke.
Miss Richards said it was discovered within a couple of days and the Georgian detached house was immediately taken off the market.
Solicitor Eleanor Jennings, whom the women appointed to represent them, said: ‘The message does not seem to be getting through that businesses owe a duty not to discriminate against individuals when providing goods and services.’ This type of discrimination was made illegal in 2006, adding to legislation which banned discrimination against gays at work.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall said yesterday: ‘Discrimination on the grounds of sexuality will not be tolerated by the gay community.’
Last night a spokesman at Jackson-Stops & Staff’s head office described the incident as ‘a truly regrettable situation’.
Ms Richards and Ms Dobinson, who live near Sudbury, Suffolk, said they were 'shaking with disbelief" when they read the advert on www.rightmove.co.uk.
Jackson-Stops & Staff were not available for comment and did not say whether the comment was inserted by mistake or as a joke.
The couple's lawyers, Russell Jones & Walker, said the estate agent had settled the case before it reached court.
Reader views (10)
Keith Lonsdale, are you serious? They have not said or implied that their sexuality is a problem. They simply did not wish their sexuality or any personal details for that matter to be advertised on the internet with their home address. Secondly I think is safe to assume that the word 'lesbian' was not placed on the ad with good intentions! Therefore it was to cause offence which is illegal! They do not need to provide personal details to attend 'Gay pride' events so they retain their right to privacy as is their choice, this poor excuse for a business took that right away from them and it is because of bigots like you that they wished to retain their privacy! The media would have published the story with or without the couples’ statements/views, so from their perspective it is better to have commented than let the media have a free reign.
- Simon, London, 29/07/2008 13:46
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I absolutely agree with the other comments. They shouldn't have settled on £5k - would have got more if went to the court. Boycott Jackson-Stops & Staff - disgusting behaviour.
- Lisa Barnett, Thames Ditton, Surrey, 29/07/2008 13:33
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As their names, pictures and sexuality are now printed for all to see, I presume that their worst fears have now been realised and "their lives have been ruined". No doubt the 5000 pounds is adequate compensation.
- Tony, Johannesburg, South Africa, 29/07/2008 13:07
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What a disgrace. they should have got 50k. Joke or no joke they have to live with (some) people discriminating against them because of this perverted estate agent.
- Jessica, london, 29/07/2008 12:38
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"Diversity training"?! Well, it should take all of two minutes to brief stoopid staff that the sexuality of vendors or buyers should have no bearing on home sales. Did they list other properties as belonging to "unmarried couples" or "students"or "slovenly new parents" or "Men Behaving Badly-types"? Thought not.
- Karli, Tottenham London, 29/07/2008 11:36
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£5k isn't a great deal of money in this context, but the key thing is that the negative publicity will be disastrous for the estate agency in the current environment; prospective sellers in Bury St Edmonds will be unlikely to offer them their business now.
- Rachel, Glamorgan, UK, 29/07/2008 10:23
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Well they've certainly been outed now!
- Teddy, Islington, London, 29/07/2008 09:08
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Jackson-Stops & Staff should be in for a rougher ride than most. £5,000 is a tiny payout, I just hope the negative publicity will cost them more.
- Stuart, Luton UK, 29/07/2008 08:45
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Don't seem all that bothered that the press got involved and has told all their neighbours and customers now instead of maybe 2 people looking at their house on line.
Perhaps an apology only and then their privacy is maintained but everything is a chance for compensation now.
Mind you the Manager of this Estate Agent should have proof read before it went go on line, but this is just typical of standards nor being maintained anymore, and everything is one big joke at other peoples expense.
- Frank Ryan, Woodford, Essex, 29/07/2008 08:39
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"In a statement, they added: 'Publicly linking our home address with our sexuality could have ruined our lives." If their sexuality is such a problem, I guess they won't be attending any of those homosexual pride marches? Or is it only an issue when it can be used to make a fast buck?
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 29/07/2008 01:46
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