An 18-year-old applicant was told she would not be shortlisted for a trainee role at a London estate agency because her 2009 Ford Fiesta was deemed “too old.” The applicant, who holds a full driving license and provided her own vehicle for work-related travel, received the rejection via email on Tuesday from the agency’s human resources department in Croydon.

In the email, the HR manager cited the car’s age as a “significant logistical concern,” adding that newer vehicles were “mandatory for field visits and client meetings.” The agency, which operates under the name PrimeView Estates Ltd., has not publicly commented on the incident, but company records show it employs 42 staff across five branches in southeast England.

The applicant, identified as Mia Carter from Sutton, has lodged a formal complaint with the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission, arguing the decision amounts to indirect age discrimination. Her legal representative confirmed she has never missed a shift or been late due to vehicle issues and that her car passed an MOT test just three months prior.

PrimeView’s internal policy, reviewed by this newspaper, states that all field staff must drive vehicles no older than 10 years. However, the rule does not differentiate between commercial or personal use, nor does it account for vehicle maintenance records or alternative transport options.

1. Personal use vs. job requirement — The policy applies even if the car is only used for occasional site visits.
2. No appeal process — Employees or applicants cannot challenge the decision based on vehicle history.
3. No accommodation clause — Workers with disabilities or financial constraints are not exempt.

Employment law experts call the policy “unreasonable and potentially unlawful.” Solicitor Sarah Whitmore, specializing in workplace discrimination, stated, “A blanket rule based solely on vehicle age could disproportionately affect younger workers, those from low-income backgrounds, or individuals living in areas with poor public transport.”

The incident has triggered calls from advocacy groups for employers to adopt fairer hiring practices. The Young Workers’ Network issued a statement Wednesday urging businesses to focus on competence and reliability, not arbitrary asset-based criteria. “A car’s age tells you nothing about a person’s work ethic or ability to do the job,” said network director Daniel Reeves.

PrimeView Estates Ltd. declined to answer specific questions but issued a brief statement: “We are reviewing our recruitment policies to ensure fairness and compliance with equality laws.” No timeline has been provided for updates or policy changes.