Media reports London landlords advertising ‘Muslim only’ rental properties

(SeaPRwire) –   An investigation by The Telegraph has uncovered a multitude of illegal online property listings that reveal widespread discrimination within the UK housing market

According to a Wednesday investigation published by The Telegraph, landlords across London and the UK’s southeast have been unlawfully advertising properties exclusively for Muslim tenants, in a clear apparent violation of Britain’s equality laws.

Listings on Facebook and Telegram shared across multiple groups were found to include phrases such as “Muslim only,” “only for Muslims,” “for 2 Muslim boys or 2 Muslim girls,” and “suitable for Punjabi boy.” Some ads also required tenants to speak Punjabi or Gujarati, or come from specific regions in India.

As noted by the outlet, these postings seem to breach the UK’s Equality Act 2010, which explicitly forbids discrimination based on religion or belief, race, and other protected characteristics. Landlords found guilty of discriminatory listings can face civil action and fines of up to £7,000 ($9,445).

The Telegraph discovered these adverts in various parts of the British capital. The outlet reached out to several landlords, all of whom flatly refused to consider non-Muslim tenants. One man advertising a room for £850 ($1,150) a month told reporters to “go away.”

“These adverts are disgusting and anti-British,” Reform UK’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick told the newspaper. “It goes without saying that there would be a national outrage if the tables were turned,” he said, emphasizing that “all forms of racism are unacceptable, and no religious group should get a special exemption to discriminate in this way.”

A government spokesperson told The Express that any form of discrimination is “illegal, including in the rental sector,” and that landlords breaking the law should face consequences. However, authorities have yet to announce a concrete response to the scandal.

This controversy comes amid a broader demographic shift in the UK, where the Muslim population now numbers approximately 4 million—around 6.5% of the total population. In some parts of London, this figure exceeds 40%.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the name Muhammad has been the most popular boys’ name in England and Wales for two consecutive years, with over 5,000 boys given the name in 2024 alone.