The majority of landlords in Watford and surrounding areas are still refusing to rent to those on benefits – despite a ruling last month that this was unlawful and discriminatory.

A judge ruled in a county court case last month that placing blanket bans on renting properties to people on housing benefits, also known as DSS, is unlawful and discriminatory.

DSS stands for Department of Social Security and is also used as a shorthand reference to mean benefit claimants.

After the ruling, the BBC analysed more than 9,000 rental listings on the website OpenRent and have found that 76 percent of landlords preferred not to rent to people on benefits.

We have looked at the data for Hertfordshire and broken it down by area.

Watford borough

In Watford, there were a total of 22 listings, four of which accepted DSS income, while 18 (82 percent) didn't accept DSS tenants.

Only three of the listings allowed pets, 13 allowed smokers, 16 were student friendly and 11 allowed families.

Three Rivers

Three Rivers had a total of 18 listings, three of which said they accepted DSS income, meaning that 15 (83 percent) of the listings didn't accept tenants claiming benefits.

Only five of the listings allowed pets, six allowed smokers, nine were students friendly and 12 accepted families.

Hertsmere

Hertsmere had 20 listings, seven took DSS income while 13 (65 percent) said they didn't accept it

Only one listing allowed pets, eight allowed smokers, 15 were happy to take students and 15 were took families.

Dacorum

Ten out of the 52 listings posted in Dacorum, said they would accept potential DSS tenants and 42 (81 percent) said they wouldn't.

A total of 17 listings allowed pets, 18 allowed smoking, 30 were student friendly and 42 took families.

This means a total of 88 listings in Hertfordshire said they wouldn't take people on housing benefits.

Chief executive of Shelter, Polly Neate said: "No DSS' discrimination is outdated, grossly unfair - and it's unlawful under the Equality Act, as our recent landmark legal victory confirms.

"This is because it overwhelmingly prevents women and disabled people, who are more likely to need support paying their rent, from finding a safe home.

"Last month's ruling should be a wake-up call for landlords and letting agents to clean up their act and treat all renters equally."