Racism on room advertisements

[Suetully]

I was going through spareroom tonight and some of the ads real 'Asians preferred.' I have some recollection of reading similar ads years ago saying 'Asians only.'

AIBU to think if ads like that read 'whites only' there would be outrage?

@Kitchendrama1

Yes it’s bad and it should be worded in a way … Such as, we practice Islam traditions in our house, so we would prefer you were a practicing Muslim or willing to follow the religious rules in our house.

Please note we feel more comfortable in just a female only household.

Also discriminatory!

"What if I live in the property?

If you live in the property you’re advertising a room in then the law is slightly more flexible. You’re allowed to have a preference, but still not when it comes to race.

In practice this applies to current flatmates and homeowners renting out a room to a lodger. If you’re advertising your room because you’re moving out you can’t discriminate, as you won’t be living there any more. If your flatmates have a preference they’ll need to post the ad themselves.

It’s always illegal to discriminate based on race when you’re letting a room or property, regardless of whether you live there or not. "

As an aside I hate how the UK has decided Asian means just south asian pakistani muslims. So vague.

"SpareRoom’s policy

It’s not just a case of what is and isn’t legal – it’s about treating people as you’d want them to treat you. We’d always prefer you stated the race, gender, sexual orientation (and so on) of the people living in the property, rather than be specific about who you’re looking for.

If you are expressing a preference in your ad, please give an explanation. If, for example, your ad says ‘No men’ or ‘Muslims only’ we’ll remove that bit of the ad. If it says ‘We prefer a female flatmate as all the other flatmates are female’ or ‘This is a Halal household so we’d prefer a Muslim’ that’s fine as you’ve offered an explanation for your preference.

We’d always prefer it if you take people on the basis of who they are, rather than which ‘boxes’ they tick. "

Seems reasonable.

Yes, it does. And far from "you have NO control over who you offer a room in your home to, to discriminate on the basis of your personal preference is illegal".

@Keroppi

"What if I live in the property?

If you live in the property you’re advertising a room in then the law is slightly more flexible. You’re allowed to have a preference, but still not when it comes to race.

In practice this applies to current flatmates and homeowners renting out a room to a lodger. If you’re advertising your room because you’re moving out you can’t discriminate, as you won’t be living there any more. If your flatmates have a preference they’ll need to post the ad themselves.

It’s always illegal to discriminate based on race when you’re letting a room or property, regardless of whether you live there or not. "

As an aside I hate how the UK has decided Asian means just south asian pakistani muslims. So vague.

Where does this quote come from, please?

No issue with people from ethic minorities doing this and wanting to live with others who have a shared experience. Just like I would only respond to an advert for a female only house.

@AlfonsoTheMango

m.spareroom.co.uk/content/default/discrimination/

Since OP was specifically talling about lodger situation/spare room adverts etc.

I also skimmes through here too but not proeprly, so didnt quote, but is relevant

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/376789/Code_of_Practice_for_Landlords__web_.pdf

Typo galore!

@TurnTowardsTheSun
Using your own logic, most men have not been convicted of a violent crime, so you're discriminating based oon a minority of the group.
By definition, the perpetrator of a racist crime is much more likely to be of a different race to you.

There is a difference between discriminating and discriminatory.

@AlfonsoTheMango

Nope. *@MasterBeth*, the link you provide states the following:

"Do the Equality Act Rules Always Apply?

The Act exempts many room rentals and flatshares from the rules. These are known as ‘small premises exceptions‘ and apply where each of the following is true:

1. The advertiser, or a close member of their family (such as a spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling) lives in the same property.
2. They share facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom or living room with the tenant.
3. In addition to the advertiser and their household, the property cannot accommodate more than two other households, or six individual tenants or lodgers."

So, yes. It is legal and non-discriminatory to state a preference.

The Equality Act applies to landlords, not to people taking in lodgers. Lodgers do not have the same rights as tenants.

You’re right.

I like your style, @Masterbeth, and wish you all the best.

The link at roomlets.rentals says "It’s always illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race. There is no exception".

The small premises exemptions can apply to other aspects of the Equality Act, but not race.