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An 18-year-old from Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, has expressed frustration after being informed that her application for a trainee lettings negotiator role was rejected due to her car being considered too old. Alanah Thompson French applied for the position at haart in Nottingham in December 2025 but was told her 2014 Citroen C1 did not meet the requirement of being under 10 years old.
Haart stated that the policy on vehicle age is grounded in concerns for employee safety, especially since staff often travel alone and cover many miles daily. A spokesperson explained, “It’s extremely important that people who work for us use reliable vehicles for their own personal safety.” The estate agency further highlighted that evidence from motoring groups suggests mechanical issues become more frequent as vehicles age, making it standard practice for their staff to use cars typically less than 10 years old.
Alanah, who currently works full-time at a coffee shop, is eager to pursue a career in real estate. She noted that the job application explicitly asked whether her vehicle was under 10 years old, to which she truthfully answered no. Consequently, haart thanked her for her interest but informed her by email that she would not be shortlisted for an interview due to the company’s vehicle policy. Reflecting on the rejection, Alanah shared her disappointment: “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.”
Alanah purchased the Citroen C1 for £2,800 in May, after saving up the amount herself. The car, a 2014 model with less than 40,000 miles on the clock and previously owned by one person, has given her no mechanical trouble. Her mother, Jenni French, also criticized the policy, emphasizing the difficulties young people face in today’s tough labor market. She said, “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.” Employment law expert Danielle Parsons echoed this concern, warning that such rules could disproportionately exclude younger and less financially well-off applicants, noting the absence of any alternatives in haart’s response. Meanwhile, Alanah remains determined, continuing her daily search for opportunities within the property sector
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