Application Rejected Over Vehicle Age
An 18-year-old woman expressed frustration after being informed she was ineligible for a trainee position at an estate agency because her car exceeded the age limit specified in the job requirements.
Alanah Thompson French, from Burton Joyce in Nottinghamshire, applied in December 2025 for a trainee lettings negotiator role at haart in Nottingham.
She was notified that her application could not proceed because her vehicle, a 2014 Citroen C1, was older than the agency's stipulated maximum age of 10 years.
In a statement, haart explained:
"It's extremely important that people who work for us use reliable vehicles for their own personal safety, particularly where they travel many miles each day and often work alone."
Alanah currently holds a full-time position in a coffee shop but is eager to pursue a career in the property sector.
During the online application process, she was required to disclose the age of her car in response to the question, "Is your car under 10 years old?" She selected "no."
In an email reviewed by the BBC, the estate agency stated it had considered her application and thanked her for her interest but informed her she had not been shortlisted for an interview because access to a vehicle under 10 years old was a requirement.
Alanah commented:
"It's just a bit of a kick in the teeth because obviously when you're applying for jobs, you're applying for loads and loads of jobs and to get an email back saying that... I just don't understand it.
"It doesn't seem fair because how am I meant to afford a bigger and better car? And how am I meant to get insured on a bigger and better car?"
She saved £2,800 to purchase the car in May. The vehicle had one previous owner and had less than 40,000 miles on the odometer.
Alanah stated she has not experienced any mechanical issues with the car.
Family Concerned About Employment Barriers
Jenni French, Alanah's mother, expressed concerns about the challenges young people face in the current labour market.
"The labour market is really tough for young people.
"I think the more that they're disadvantaged in terms of policies that start limiting their ability to show that they've got skills and knowledge and can do things, I think it makes it harder and harder.
"And if you don't have that door opened early days for you, it just has a legacy as you go through life."
Agency Explains Vehicle Policy
haart stated:
"Evidence from motoring organisations shows that the likelihood of mechanical problems increases as vehicles get older.
"For that reason, and in line with many organisations that require staff to use their own cars for work purposes, our policy is that vehicles should normally be under 10 years old."
Legal Perspective on Policy Impact
Danielle Parsons, an employment partner at Irwin Mitchell, commented on the implications of haart's vehicle policy for prospective employees.
"I'm concerned that this policy may disproportionately exclude younger, less affluent, applicants from applying for this job, particularly as this is an entry level position and job vacancies are currently few and far between.
"The response from haart doesn't point to any alternatives to this sort of blanket ban," she said.
Applicant Remains Determined
Alanah stated she remains committed to entering the property sector and continues to apply for jobs daily.
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