Property tycoon bans single mums, battered wives, parents with kids under 18, single adults and even PLUMBERS from becoming tenants
The exhaustive list has been described as 'despicable' after being shared on social media
A PROPERTY tycoon has banned single mothers, battered wives, plumbers and low income earners from renting out his properties.
Fergus Wilson, who once claimed to own more than 700 properties, shared the exhaustive list of demands for his tenants saying that "like any business, we are consistently fine tuning".
The 69-year-old set out the list of 11 rules for people who would not be able to rent out one of his properties from 2017, including no single mums or dads, single adults or smokers.
He also banned "battered wives" and tenants with children under 18.
Instead, he wrote: "Not all tenants on Benefits are a Problem, but all problems are on benefits".
Fergus, who runs his Kent property empire along with his wife Judith, has said he is continuing to sell off properties, but that families and single parents pose a problem as it can take up to 13 months to get a possession order if he decides to sell.
The multi-millionaire said: "Like any business, we are consistently fine tuning to best advantage.
"We do a letting criteria every year, and like four out of five landlords we don't accept those on low incomes and housing benefit.
"The average salary in Ashford in £23,000, but with average rents and to provide a rent guarantee someone would need to be earning at least £30,000 a year for our properties.
"The system is against single people, but most of my properties are family homes. We don't have one-bedroom flats."
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Fergus last year campaigned to become Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner and vowed to take on the bullies who batter their girlfriends, wives or partners.
But he said that typically the bullies cause damage to his properties by kicking down front doors, and also cause damage inside the homes, therefore he doesn't wish to take on those who are victims of domestic violence.
And addressing the ban on plumbers, he said that they regularly offered to carry out seemingly routine repairs before telling him that more work needs to be done, leading him to believe that they were ripping him off.
Like any business, we are consistently fine tuning to best advantage
Fergus Wilson
He added: "We have said nothing against lesbians and homosexuals or coloureds. As long as they can pay the rent. We are in business to make money so we make a selection based on a sensible business plan.
"If ever a person came in wearing pink socks and defaulted on rent, and it became a regular problem, then we would stop renting to people who wear pink socks."
Fergus said he takes details of national insurance and employment to prove to insurers who is living in his properties and to prove that his tenants can afford to live there.
He also takes car registration details for council car parking permits and for flats with allotted spaces.
The list was shared online, with it apparently delivered to Evolution Lettings.
It has since sparked a backlash with one person writing: "So no under 18's, no single parents, and no single adults... So that pretty much means every one in the country apart from childless couples."
Another added: "Despicable".
The company has been contacted for comment.
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