The daunting challenge of finding rental accommodation in Mumbai was vividly documented by a Redditor whose recent experience highlighted the deep-seated discrimination and intrusive questioning often faced by prospective tenants.
The Reddit post, which included a screengrab of a WhatsApp conversation, revealed a broker asking questions that went far beyond standard inquiries about rent, deposit, or necessary paperwork. The post was captioned with frustration: “What has happened to the people of Mumbai!”
Intrusive Questions on Diet and Religion
According to the Redditor, the broker became increasingly insistent after being told that the Redditor’s in-laws, who would also be residing in the house, were non-vegetarian.
The broker then allegedly shifted the focus entirely to religion. Even after the Redditor confirmed the family was Hindu, the broker proceeded to demand the family’s surname to “confirm” their religious identity.
When questioned about the need for such intrusive personal details, the broker reportedly replied that the property owner “does not want to rent the house to Muslims.”
A Long List of Rejections
The Redditor noted that this was not an isolated incident, detailing previous rejections encountered during their home search. These rejections included being refused a rental agreement in the in-laws’ name because they were deemed “old.”
Frustrated by the ongoing hurdles, the Redditor provided an extensive list of common reasons why tenants are rejected in Mumbai’s rental market:
- Religion/Caste: Being Muslim or of a lower caste.
- Dietary Habits: Being non-vegetarian.
- Marital/Family Status: Being a bachelor, a single mother, or a part of a live-in couple.
- Profession/Education: Being a media student or an actor.
- Lifestyle: Being a pet parent.
- Language: Not speaking the owner’s preferred language.
The post concluded with a pointed question: “So, who exactly is ‘entitled’ to rent a house?”
Widespread Shared Experiences
The Reddit post sparked a massive reaction, with numerous users confirming they had faced similar discriminatory hurdles while trying to secure accommodation in Mumbai:
- One user shared: “I was once rejected because I work the afternoon to night shift, I am a woman. It was a huge point of contention.”
- Another commented on the futile nature of even buying property: “I faced this too. So I decided to buy, and guess what? They (brokers) still asked me the same questions!”
- Several users confirmed the religious and dietary screening: “The number of times I’ve been asked, ‘What’s your caste?’ by landlords in Mumbai is disturbing.” And: “Mumbai is really shitty. I was rejected because I was non-vegetarian (Hindu). Another place, I was rejected because I was non-muslim.”