Investigation Reveals “Muslim-Only” Apartment Listings in London

An investigation by The Telegraph has uncovered numerous rental listings across London that appear to violate Britain’s anti-discrimination laws by specifying religious preferences for tenants. The advertisements, found on platforms including Facebook, Gumtree, and Telegram, explicitly state preferences such as “only for Muslims,” “for 2 Muslim boys or 2 Muslim girls,” and “Muslims preferred.”

The investigation revealed that some landlords are also targeting specific ethnic groups, with advertisements appealing to Punjabi and Gujarati speakers. Other listings specify “Hindu only” requirements, while some appear to use religious subtext through requirements that properties remain “alcohol and smoke-free.”

One company, Roshan Properties, was found to have posted dozens of listings with similar language, including phrases like “prefer Muslim boy,” “one double room is available for Muslims,” and “suitable for Punjabi boy.” When contacted by The Telegraph about an advertisement for a “Muslims only” room priced at approximately $1,150, one landlord reportedly told the newspaper to “go away” and refused to answer whether the property was available to renters of other faiths.

These practices appear to violate Britain’s Equality Act 2010, which explicitly prohibits discrimination based on religion, belief, race, and other protected characteristics in various contexts, including housing.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s economic spokesman, condemned the advertisements in comments to The Telegraph, calling them “disgusting and anti-British.” He added, “It goes without saying that there would be a national outrage if the tables were turned. All forms of racism are unacceptable, and no religious group should get a special exemption to discriminate in this way.”

The controversy comes amid broader tensions around integration and cultural accommodation in the United Kingdom, where issues of religious and cultural differences have increasingly become politically charged in recent years.

When approached about the listings, a Gumtree spokesperson defended some of the advertisements, drawing a distinction between different types of rental arrangements. “We take reports of inappropriate listings very seriously,” the spokesperson said. “The ads referenced 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 distinction highlighted by Gumtree points to potential gray areas in how anti-discrimination laws are applied to different housing situations. While landlords renting entire properties are clearly prohibited from discriminating, the rules around shared accommodations where tenants may have personal preferences about cohabitation partners remain contentious.

Housing discrimination experts note that this type of selective advertising represents a growing challenge for regulators in diverse urban centers like London. The rapid growth of informal rental markets on social media platforms has created enforcement difficulties for authorities trying to ensure fair housing practices.

The London rental market is already under significant pressure, with high demand and limited supply driving up prices across the city. These discriminatory practices potentially further restrict housing options for many residents in an already challenging market.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, Britain’s equality watchdog, has previously stated that landlords must ensure their policies and practices do not discriminate against protected groups, though enforcement actions against individual landlords have been relatively rare in recent years.