A man and his young family claim they have been left virtually homeless thanks to landlords in the area who are refusing to accept housing benefit tenants.

Chris Sheen, 34, has been house-hunting since early November but has been turned down by landlords after he mentioned that he received housing benefit.

Mr Sheen, who has a two-year-old daughter and a fiancee, currently lives at his grandmother’s in Green Lanes, Ewell, after being forced to move out of his previous accommodation when he was made redundant in April.

He said: “The landlords were not interested as soon as I mentioned that I was on benefits.

“I think there is a lack of understanding. As soon as we mention, at the end of the showing, that we are on benefits they makes excuses and leave.”

Mr Sheen, who earns below the benefit threshold and is therefore eligible for support, said that out of the nine letting agencies he contacted only one, Rosebery Housing Association, would accept tenants who receive benefits.

He added: “I think there is an element of snobbishness. Just because people receive benefits does not make them unreliable.”

Jackie Osborne, residential property manager at letting agents Huggins, Edwards and Sharp, said: “This type of problem is occurring more and more after the legislation changed meaning that payments get paid directly to tenants.

“This means that landlords aren’t always sure that they can receive payment.”

An Epsom and Ewell Borough Council spokesman said: “The borough is a great place to live and the rental market is very buoyant, meaning landlords can choose their tenants from a large range of applicants.

“We anticipate the situation for people on housing benefits will worsen when the Government’s changes to the benefit system come into effect in April and lower the amount of housing benefit people may receive.

“The council works closely with a number of private landlords and housing associations in Epsom and Ewell to assist local people in need.”