An investigation by a national newspaper has uncovered rental advertisements in London specifying religious and ethnic preferences, potentially breaching discrimination laws.
The Daily Telegraph identified multiple listings on Facebook, Gumtree, and at least one estate agency website that included conditions such as “Muslims preferred” or “Hindus only”. Additional advertisements were found on messaging platform Telegram, with some specifying preferences for Punjabi and Gujarati speakers or tenants from specific Indian states including Kerala and Haryana.
Legal implications
The advertisements appear to contravene the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination in housing on grounds including religion and ethnicity. Facebook removed one page after being alerted to the issue by the Telegraph.
Roshan Properties, identified in the investigation, advertised dozens of listings with phrases including “prefer Muslim boy”, “one double room is available for Muslims” and “suitable for Punjabi boy”. The properties were located across multiple London boroughs including Ilford, Newham, Barking, Dagenham, East Ham, Redbridge, Walthamstow, Upton Park, Harrow and Newbury Park.
When contacted by the Telegraph, some landlords did not deny the discriminatory nature of their advertisements.
Platform response
A Gumtree spokesman said the platform maintains clear policies prohibiting unlawful discrimination and takes reports of inappropriate listings seriously. The spokesman noted that the advertisements in question “appear to relate to private rooms within shared homes, where existing occupants may express preferences about who they live with. This is different from renting out an entire property, which is subject to stricter rules under the Equality Act.”
The issue emerges as letting agents prepare for the Renters’ Rights Act, which comes into force next month. The new legislation will make it illegal to discriminate against tenants with children or those receiving benefits, adding to existing protected characteristics under current equality law.
The findings highlight ongoing challenges in the rental sector, where housing stock shortages have intensified competition for available properties. Industry professionals note that discriminatory practices may become more visible as landlords increasingly use online platforms to advertise directly rather than through regulated letting agents.
Roshan Properties was approached for comment by the Telegraph but did not respond to the investigation’s findings.
