A social housing landlord discriminated against potential tenants by turning them down because of their race, sexual orientation, religion or their body odour, an investigation has concluded.

Independent agency Integis carried out an investigation into complaints of ‘a serious violation of transparent and fair housing allocation’ at De Voorzorg, which manages 3,300 homes in Heerlen, Hoensbroek and Brunssum.

As well as race and sexuality, potential tenants were rejected because of objections to their former partners, hobbies and use of medication, NOS reported.

The corporation has been run by an interim management team since its former director, Jos Kerkhoffs, took sick leave at the start of 2017. The current management began implementing changes a year ago in the wake of a critical report by the social housing regulator.

Managers said the working practices described in the latest investigation ‘defied imagination’ and condemned the ‘culture of fear’ that prevailed under the previous head of housing.

Kerkhoffs denied that any discrimination had taken place and told De Limburger that he did not recognise the conclusions of Integis’s report.