India: Urban Rental Housing Market - Caste and Religion Matters in Access

Economic and Political Weekly, Vol - L No. 26-27, June 27, 2015 |

by Sukhadeo Thorat, Anuradha Banerjee, Vinod K Mishra and Firdaus Rizvi

This study attempts to identify the forms of discrimination experienced by Dalits and Muslims in the rental housing market in five metropolitan areas of the National Capital Region of Delhi. A combination of three distinct methods, the telephonic audit, in-person or face-to-face audit, and studies, is used to capture the phenomenon of discrimination and unequal outcomes for prospective Dalit and Muslim tenants in the urban rental housing market. The study finds that houseowner prejudices deny housing for both Dalits and Muslims, with Muslims experiencing greater discrimination. The study also found that Dalits and Muslims who manage to get homes on rent have to do so by agreeing to unfair terms and conditions.

http://www.epw.in/housing-discrimination/urban-rental-housing-market.html