Reddit post sparks outrage over caste, religion, and diet-based rental preferences in Indian diaspora housing
A Reddit post by an Indian woman living in Canada has sparked debate over the discriminatory practices prevalent in housing listings posted by some NRI landlords. The post criticised the increasing trend of rental ads that impose restrictions based on caste, religion, gender, and dietary preferences, calling such behaviour both illegal and culturally backward, reported indianewsnetwork.com.
The woman condemned landlords for enforcing India-centric social biases in a country where such discrimination is against the law.
In her post, the woman pointed to recurring rental advertisements that read: “Only Gujarati girl,” “Punjabi-speaking vegetarian girl preferred,” or “Strictly vegetarian, no non-veg even from outside.” She called such conditions “insanely moronic” and reminded landlords, “You’re not in India anymore, where caste, language, and food preferences can dictate tenancy.”
The issue of exclusionary practices has struck a chord within the Indian diaspora, as others shared similar experiences. One user from Vancouver recalled a rental offer that required cooking services for five men in exchange for accommodation. “It felt more like a matrimonial ad than a housing listing,” the user commented.
Another user cited a rental where the living area was divided only by a curtain, leading them to avoid Indian landlords altogether. These stories highlighted how personal preferences, when unchecked, can turn into exploitative or illegal arrangements.
While some defended the landlords’ right to comfort, others emphasised that Canadian laws protect tenants from such biases.
The Canadian Human Rights Act and provincial tenancy codes make it unlawful to reject tenants based on race, religion, gender, or food choices. “This isn’t about comfort—it’s about compliance with the law,” one Reddit user stated, urging the diaspora to uphold Canadian legal standards.
The original poster suggested landlords struggling to accept diverse tenants might consider renting to family members instead. She urged NRIs to adapt to the values of their adopted country rather than import outdated social norms.
Canada’s urban housing crunch and rising diversity bring these issues to the forefront. According to Statistics Canada, over eight million Canadians are foreign-born, with South Asians being the largest visible minority. Yet, studies show racialised renters frequently encounter covert and overt discrimination.
This episode underscores how old cultural habits persist, even in liberal societies like Canada. As conversations around inclusivity grow, such posts have become a necessary wake-up call for immigrant communities to reconcile tradition with modern-day legality and ethics.
