Brief
An investigation has uncovered that some landlords in England are allegedly promoting “Muslim-only” apartments on various online platforms. The Telegraph’s report highlighted listings in London on sites like Facebook, Gumtree, and Telegram—including phrases like “only for Muslims” and “preferred for Muslims.”
Some advertisements specifically target Punjabi and Gujarati speakers, while others have job postings aimed only at men. Notably, some listings also ask for “Hindu only” tenants, framing it in terms like “alcohol and smoke-free.”
On Facebook, Roshan Properties has over a dozen listings indicating preferences such as “prefer Muslim boy” and “suitable for Punjabi boy.” However, these ads appear to violate Britain’s Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, and other factors.
Robert Jenrick, an economic spokesperson for Reform UK, criticized the ads, labeling them as “disgusting” and suggesting there would be public outrage if such preference was for a different religion.
When approached about a “Muslims only” room listed for $1,150, a landlord dismissively told The Telegraph to “go away.” Gumtree responded, stating they hold policies against unlawful discrimination.
A representative from Gumtree acknowledged that while such listings may be linked to private rooms in shared homes, they still take reports of inappropriate ads seriously. Facebook and Telegram have yet to comment on the issue.
