Estate agents discriminate against migrants, says study

Estate agents are discriminating against migrants and play a central role in producing and sustaining housing prejudice, research has found. In an in-depth study, the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality NCPE, found that migrants were subjected to blatant discrimination when trying to rent properties. The research presented yesterday was part of a project entitled, ‘I’m Not Racist, but...’, which was co-funded by the EU Progress funds. During interviews, 50 immigrants who were made up of 27 sub-Saharan Africans, 13 Middle East North Africans, eight East Europeans and two Asians revealed the shocking abuse they were subjected to. In one of the worst incidents reported, a property owner told the Maltese girlfriend of an African man that he did not rent to “animals, blacks and Arabs”. Maria Pisani, who was part of the research team, said the interviewees were extremely candid in their responses, to the point that racist language and practice appeared to be normalised. Results from the study indicate discriminatory practices by estate agents and that they play a central role in producing and sustaining housing discrimination. The agents played the role of gatekeeper in...