Private landlords in London are illegally advertising rental properties for tenants of specific religions, including 'Muslim only' and 'Hindu only', according to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph. The advertisements, found on platforms such as Facebook, Gumtree, and Telegram, use phrases like 'Muslims only', 'for 2 Muslim boys', '2 Muslim girls', and 'Muslims preferred'. Others specify 'suitable for Punjabi boy', appeal to Gujarati speakers, or target people from Kerala and Haryana. Some ads explicitly state 'Hindus only'.
Potential Breach of Equality Act
These advertisements potentially violate the UK's Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, sex, race, and other protected characteristics. The Equality and Human Rights Commission cites 'advertising a room for Asian tenants only' as an example of an unlawful advert. Despite this, similar ads are widespread across London.
Platforms Hosting Discriminatory Ads
On Facebook, such ads appear on pages like 'Renting room in London for Muslims' and 'Muslim rents'. The Daily Telegraph found dozens of listings on Telegram requesting tenants of specific genders, religions, and nationalities, all potentially illegal. The Times of India also found many such ads in a Facebook group called 'Flat to rent in London', which has 325,000 members. Examples include 'Muslim Pakistani Girl Only', 'Looking for respectful Muslim boys only', 'vegetarian Hindu only', and 'Hindu preferred'.
A Telegraph reporter contacted a landlord advertising a 'Muslims only' room in Barking for £850 per month, asking if it was available to other faiths. The landlord responded, 'Go away.'
Legal Exceptions and Consequences
If a landlord lives in the property and shares essential facilities with a lodger, there is some legal leeway to advertise a preference for religion or gender, if worded carefully, but not based on race. A spokesperson for the National Residential Landlords Association stated: 'Advertising a property to let only to adherents of a particular religion or philosophical beliefs is a clear example of direct discrimination, and as such prohibited by the Equalities Act 2010. There is no place for this kind of exclusionary practice in the UK's private rented sector. No landlord or letting agent should attempt to bar any prospective tenant on the basis of religion, race, nationality, or ethnicity. It is illegal and can lead to severe legal and financial consequences.'
A UK government spokesperson added: 'Discrimination against anyone based on their religion or race is illegal, including in the rental sector. Any landlord not complying with the law should face the consequences.'
