Some landlords in the UK are reportedly listing “Muslim-only” apartments online, as highlighted by local media reports. An investigation by The Telegraph uncovered these advertisements on platforms like Facebook, Gumtree, and Telegram, featuring phrases such as “Muslims only,” “Two Muslim boys or two Muslim girls,” and “Muslims first.”
Interestingly, some job postings on these platforms are targeted exclusively at men, while others specifically appeal to Punjabi and Gujarati speakers. A few listings even indicate “Hindu only” as a preference and mention specifics like a preference for homes that are non-smoking and alcohol-free.
A company called Roshan Properties has shared multiple ads, stating things like “preferring Muslim boys,” “one double room for Muslims,” and “suitable for Punjabi boys.” Such advertisements violate the UK’s Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, belief, race, or other protected characteristics.
Robert Jenrick, an economics spokesman for Reform UK, expressed strong disapproval, saying, “These adverts are disgusting and anti-British. It’s clear that if the situation were reversed, there would be national outrage.” He emphasized that racism, in any form, is unacceptable and that no religious group should be free from discrimination.
When approached about a specific listing for a “Muslim-only” room priced at $1,150, one landlord simply told the reporter to “go away” when asked if it was available to individuals of other faiths. A representative from Gumtree stated that the platform has firm policies against unlawful discrimination.
They mentioned that they take reports of inappropriate listings seriously, noting that the ads seem to relate to private rooms within shared homes, where current residents may have preferences about who they live with. However, this differs from renting out an entire property, which is governed by stricter regulations under the Equality Act.
Meanwhile, Facebook and Telegram have not yet responded to inquiries regarding these issues.
