It seems when you're a Muslim, you can get away with all sorts in Britain
We found five such ads nearby. Our reporters discovered hundreds more across the UK, including signs for “Asian only” and “Polish only” tenants.
The ads echo those of the 1950s and ’60s when landlords hung “Whites only” signs in windows. There are fears the discrimination scandal is fuelling a ghetto culture in our towns and cities which could be exploited by farright groups.
In Woolwich, south-east London, tensions have been running high since Army drummer Lee, 26, was murdered by extremists last year.
At nearby Jash News, one small ad read: “Room to let for £400 in Plumstead… ONLY FOR ASIAN FAMILY.”
We also uncovered around 200 property adverts on websites such as Gumtree, specifying Muslims
One posting spelled out “MUSLIM BROTHER” in capital letters.
Landlords who discriminate in this way are breaking the law, say experts.
The web is awash with such ads. In Birmingham, landlord Nouman Khan used the Gumtree site to find a female Muslim to rent a double room in the house he shares with his British Pakistani family.
He said: “I know my advert breaches the Equality Act but it is up to Gumtree to get me to take it down.
“They contacted me a few years ago to change one of my adverts but I haven’t heard about this one.
“I am not discriminating. Most of my friends are white but I want to share with someone who has the same habits as me.”
An Equality and Human Rights Commission spokesman said it had written to lettings agents in the past to explain that “usually they cannot specify a prospective tenant is British, Asian or otherwise.”
have you not considered that the person might not be comfortable with drunk roommates who smoke, eat bacon, and bring girls over. so instead of making a long list of requirements they simply stated "muslim only"?
Although you are not allowed to select this way if you are a live-out landlord, when you live with someone you can choose them on whatever requirements you want.
have you not considered that the person might not be comfortable with drunk roommates who smoke, eat bacon, and bring girls over. so instead of making a long list of requirements they simply stated "muslim only"?
Loads of Muslims do the at least one of the above, infact you don't know that he himself doesn't do those things. Not all non-Muslims do those things
If a white person was to put up an advert and didn't want to deal with cultural differences so stated "whites only" or "non-Muslims only" you know as well as I do the **** would hit the fan.
have you not considered that the person might not be comfortable with drunk roommates who smoke, eat bacon, and bring girls over. so instead of making a long list of requirements they simply stated "muslim only"?
There are non-Muslims who don't get drunk, smoke or eat bacon and there are Muslims who do all these things. If those are the issues, make them clear.
Those adverts are breaking the law against religious discrimination.
If a white person was to put up an advert and didn't want to deal with cultural differences so stated "whites only" or "non-Muslims only" you know as well as I do the **** would hit the fan.
have you not considered that the person might not be comfortable with drunk roommates who smoke, eat bacon, and bring girls over. so instead of making a long list of requirements they simply stated "muslim only"?
Lots of muslims smoke. I'm White Atheist and I don't.
Wanting roommates to go outside to smoke or whatever so the house doesn't smell horrible is fine. Bacon and girls are none of their business.
Although you are not allowed to select this way if you are a live-out landlord, when you live with someone you can choose them on whatever requirements you want.
Of course but you specifically state your preferences Non smokers Quiet and tidy Must be working etc
All that is perfectly reasonable. What you cant do is discriminate by race or racially profile individuals which is what the adverts are doing.
Loads of Muslims do the at least one of the above, infact you don't know that he himself doesn't do those things. Not all non-Muslims do those things
If a white person was to put up an advert and didn't want to deal with cultural differences so stated "whites only" or "non-Muslims only" you know as well as I do the **** would hit the fan.
There are non-Muslims who don't get drunk, smoke or eat bacon and there are Muslims who do all these things. If those are the issues, make them clear.
Those adverts are breaking the law against religious discrimination.
yes i know, my point was that maybe their intention was not to discriminate but to find someone with similar habits. but if its against the law...then its against the law. maybe next time they should make a long list of their requirements
Wanting to live with someone who has the same belief system as you isn't wrong. Wanting to only rent your room to a certain group of people when you might not even meet them is. But wanting to live with someone from your culture etc is perfectly acceptable.
yes i know, my point was that maybe their intention was not to discriminate but to find someone with similar habits. but if its against the law...then its against the law. maybe next time they should make a long list of their requirements
It is a sad state of affairs when such laws can be breached by some parties with no punishment or even acknowledgement. What is worse is that these people know that they are breaking the law but they simply don't **** and don't respect our nations laws. Which are in place to protect people such as themselves from discrimination.
Wanting to live with someone who has the same belief system as you isn't wrong. Wanting to only rent your room to a certain group of people when you might not even meet them is. But wanting to live with someone from your culture etc is perfectly acceptable.
No it is not. Failing to rent a room to a gay couple for example is unlawful.
No it is not. Failing to rent a room to a gay couple for example is unlawful.
So when I decided who I was going to live with based on who I could live with I was breaking the law because I didn't want to share with certain people. I call bull****.
So when I decided who I was going to live with based on who I could live with I was breaking the law because I didn't want to share with certain people. I call bull****.