Faced with flagrant religious discrimination, Muslims in Delhi struggle for housing

Delhi’s housing market is fiercely competitive, but for Muslims, the odds are particularly stacked

For Asif Qureshi, a 32-year-old marketing professional, a resident of Dhorra in Aligarh, about 130 km south of Delhi, finding a place to live in Delhi has become an emotionally draining ordeal, the challenges he faces in securing a rental flat is not based on his qualifications but rather on his identity as a Muslim.

“I have visited 10 to 15 flats, maybe even more, in various parts of Delhi, each time with the hope that this one might finally be it. But the rejections were harsh. There was always an excuse, the flat has already been taken, or the owner does not want bachelors, or sometimes no explanation at all. Eventually, one landlord openly told me he would not rent to Muslims,” Qureshi tells Media India Group.

With high rents and relatively limited supply, Delhi’s housing market is fiercely competitive, but for Muslims, the odds are particularly stacked. Even those with stable jobs and substantial incomes often face rejections from landlords and property agents based solely on their religious identity. Housing discrimination against Muslims in India is a well-documented issue, but in Delhi, where communal tensions simmer beneath the surface, it is a glaring fact.

“It is hard not to take it personally when doors keep closing on your face simply because of your religion. I am an Indian, just like anyone else, but in these moments, it feels like I don’t belong here. Every time I walk out of a rejected flat, it feels like another punch to the gut a reminder that, no matter how qualified or polite I am, being a Muslim seems to be the deal-breaker,” Qureshi adds.

Qureshi is hardly alone in facing rampant discrimination. Across Delhi, Muslims are routinely turned away by property dealers who fear backlash from Hindu neighbours. In some cases, the discrimination comes masked as concern for “cultural differences” or a desire to maintain “harmony” in the neighbourhood.

“We Muslims face so many hurdles just to rent a flat in a decent locality in Delhi. It is not just about finding a place, it is about constantly battling prejudice. Repeatedly, we hear property owners saying things like, ‘we don’t want to disrupt the harmony of the neighbourhood,’ or that ‘the neighbours might not be comfortable’. What does that even mean? The worst is when they bring up the issue of food. ‘Do you cook non-vegetarian?’ they ask with a look of disgust, as if what I eat at home makes me less human or somehow less fit to live there,” Suhaib Bhat, 28-year-old who hails from Lucknow and is working at a company in Noida, near Delhi, tells Media India Group.

Housing discrimination against Muslims in India is a well-documented issue, but in Delhi, where communal tensions simmer beneath the surface, it is a glaring fact (Photo:MIG)

“We are treated like outsiders in our own country, no matter how educated, polite, or professional we are. It is like there is always a barrier we can’t cross, and it leaves you feeling small, like your very existence is a problem,” Bhat adds.

The struggle is not only about securing rental properties but extends to buying homes, where discrimination often plays a significant role.

“We moved to Delhi in 2018 and initially lived in a rented house. It took us three years to buy our own home because, as Muslims, we faced discrimination. Many well-known housing societies were unwilling to accept Muslim residents and people often preferred not to have Muslim neighbours. The prejudice made our search for a permanent home much harder,” Haseeb Ahmed, a 45-year-old businessman, tells Media India Group.

Ahmed adds that ultimately, he was forced to buy an apartment in Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim-dominated locality in south Delhi.

The situation is even more complicated for Kashmiri Muslims. Seen with suspicion due to the ongoing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir and often stereotyped as politically radical or linked to terrorism, Kashmiri Muslims struggle to find a place in the capital. Many of them, students or professionals, recount stories of how their applications for rented apartments were rejected without any explanation.

“I came to Delhi in 2020 for my education, thinking it would be a fresh start. But the reality hit me hard when I struggled for nearly five months just to find a place to live. Every time I mentioned that I was from Kashmir, there was this shift in attitude. People looked at me like I was a threat, as if being Kashmiri automatically meant I was linked to terrorism. Even in Muslim-majority areas, it was not any easier. I heard landlords whispering that Kashmiris were ‘risky’, ‘dangerious’ and ‘better to avoid.’ It was painful being rejected by my own community. Eventually, I ended up in Shaheen Bagh, which is already so overcrowded. It is not ideal, but I didn’t have a choice. The constant stigma, the fear in people’s eyes, just because I am a Kashmiri Muslim, it makes you feel like you don’t belong anywhere, even in your own country,” Shiekh Aqsa 26-years-old student of Jamia Millia University tells Media India Group.

Muslims and Kashmiris in Delhi often find themselves pushed to specific neighbourhoods where their community is already concentrated. Areas like Jamia Nagar, Seelampur and Zakir Nagar have become unofficial Muslim enclaves, where property owners are willing to rent to Muslims, but at a premium.

“These areas are overcrowded, and the rents are much higher than in other parts of the city, we are left with little choice but to live here because no one else will rent to us elsewhere,” Syed Saima 24-year-old student of Jamia Hamdard tells Media India Group

This concentration of Muslims in certain neighbourhoods reinforces segregation, making it harder for integration between communities to take place. It also affects access to amenities, as these areas are often neglected by municipal authorities, leading to poor infrastructure, inadequate water supply and inconsistent electricity says residents.

Ramesh Kumar

Even real estate brokers in Delhi acknowledge the challenges faced by Muslims in securing rental properties. Some, burdened by the constant rejections and additional requirements for their Muslim clients, have stopped catering to them altogether. From documentation demands to outright bias, the barriers for Muslims seeking homes are deeply entrenched in the city’s housing market.

“It is extremely difficult to find a home for Muslim clients. Property owners usually refuse outright or come up with excuses. If we do manage to find a place, they ask for so many documents police verification, background checks, it is a whole process. I have stopped taking on Muslim clients now because the landlords won’t budge. Even if a flat is available, the moment they hear the client is Muslim, they find a reason to say no. The society won’t agree, or the neighbours might complain. It is unfortunate, but in Delhi, people are just not willing to rent to Muslims,” Ramesh Kumar, 34-years-old Broker from Mayur Vihar Delhi tells Media India Group.

Zahid Malik

While India’s constitution guarantees equality for all citizens, including the right to own and rent property, there is little legal recourse for those facing housing discrimination. The absence of anti-discrimination laws specifically addressing housing makes it difficult to challenge landlords or housing societies that reject tenants based on religion or ethnicity.

“There is no strong legal framework to combat this kind of discrimination. While tenants can file complaints with the police or the National Commission for Minorities, these cases rarely go anywhere because it is hard to prove that discrimination occurred. Landlords always have some excuse ready,” Advocate Zahid Malik 29-year-old tells Media India Group.

As Delhi continues to grow and change, addressing the housing discrimination faced by its Muslim and Kashmiri residents will be key to ensuring that it becomes a truly inclusive city, where people of all backgrounds can find a place to call home.