Tenant in Mitcham wanted - but 'not from India, Africa or Pakistan'

9:20am Friday 31st August 2012 in News Exclusive By Stephanie Harrison

This notice for a spare room was spotted in two Mitcham newsagents This notice for a spare room was spotted in two Mitcham newsagents

A room to let notice that banned Indians, Pakistanis and Africans from responding has provoked outrage.

The handwritten advertisement appeared in the window of the Mitcham News newsagent in Upper Green East last Monday, August 20, and was also spotted in Bineet newsagent in London Road on Tuesday, August 28.

Iyabode Animashaun, 64, who lives in Armfield Crescent, Mitcham, said: “It’s appalling. I find it offensive.”

Recalling riots in the Westbourne Park area of London in the 1950s, in which signs were posted stating “No blacks, no dogs, no Irish”, the 64-year-old former council road sweeper said: “You can’t permeate that mentality. That mentality has to stop.

“We’re living in a multi-cultural society and it is a really bad attitude to have.”

An employee of the Asian-owned Mitcham News was unperturbed by the advert and declined to comment.

But he did confirm the window advertisements earn the shop £1 each for a one week display.

Police confirmed such an advertisement could fall foul of legislation under the Public Order Act if its content causes harassment, alarm or distress and said they would follow-up on the report.

When contacted, the author of the advertisement laughed when it was put to him that language he used in the posting could be offensive to ethnic minorities.

He said: “It is not racist. We want to live with other eastern European people and I don’t want to waste anybody’s time.

“If you don’t like it, don’t call me, it’s simple. I’ve seen many other ads like this so it’s normal.”

Racism or personal preference? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6333, tweet @WimbledonNews or email: newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk.

Comments(29)

mr-bjp says...
12:27pm Fri 31 Aug 12

It's not racism it's personal preference. As he said 'If you don't like it, don't call'. My sentiments exactly.

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maxicas says...
3:26pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Its their room, they have the right to rent it to who they want.

Report this post »

CelineW says...
4:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12

TO BE HONEST I ONLY READ THE PICTURE OF THE NOTICE
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.

Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !

Report this post »

CelineW says...
4:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12

TO BE HONEST I ONLY READ THE PICTURE OF THE NOTICE
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.

Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !

Report this post »

CelineW says...
4:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12

TO BE HONEST I ONLY READ THE PICTURE OF THE NOTICE
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.

Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !

Report this post »

CelineW says...
4:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12

TO BE HONEST I ONLY READ THE PICTURE OF THE NOTICE
because you need to be so narrow minded to publish such a pointless and provocative article.
This is not racism !
It says "a room for a working East European couple".
It does not "banned" Indian, Pakistan and African only !!!!!
It also specified that unemployed and students should not apply.
Then people are reading in between the lines again.
And what if a landlord is being selective ? It is his property after all !
It could also say :
No Pregnant woman.
No children.
No pets.
No bicycle.
No cheque payments.
No musicians.
No smokers.
No alteration to decoration..........
..
**** ! There are thousand and thousand of properties being left emptied because landlords can not be ask to rent any-more because of persecution. Let them have their personal preferences.

Maybe I should complain for discrimination to the Job Centre too for offering a Manual Grade 4 job while I want a Manual grade 3 one !

Report this post »

edstar says...
7:41pm Fri 31 Aug 12

The definition of racism is to discriminate against someone based on their race which is exactly what this person is doing. There are no ifs or buts about it. Also I wonder if you guys would be saying the same thing if they had said no whites? Somehow I doubt it.

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fedupwithofsted says...
8:10pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Edstar- The advert is stating for Eastern European. Not just people based on race. So no English people can apply either. I am English and I am not offended at all. I doubt many, if any are. Same old people being offended by nothing.

Report this post »

Surreydon says...
10:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Racial predujice/discrimina
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!

I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!

Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.

Report this post »

Surreydon says...
10:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Racial predujice/discrimina
tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!

I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!

Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.

Report this post »

snoopy65 says...
11:38pm Fri 31 Aug 12

There are adverts in shops in Sutton that specify that they only want people who speak certain languages but this has not been in the guardian???? Is it not up to the person who owns the property who they rent it to not a matter for the police to govern tenancies/rental agreements/adverts

Report this post »

edstar says...
12:06am Sat 1 Sep 12

fedupwithofsted wrote:
Edstar- The advert is stating for Eastern European. Not just people based on race. So no English people can apply either. I am English and I am not offended at all. I doubt many, if any are. Same old people being offended by nothing.
I was just pointing out the definition of racist and how this advert was racist. The advert also didn’t say anything about English people but we agree on one thing. I am not offended either.

Report this post »

edstar says...
12:07am Sat 1 Sep 12

snoopy65 wrote:
There are adverts in shops in Sutton that specify that they only want people who speak certain languages but this has not been in the guardian???? Is it not up to the person who owns the property who they rent it to not a matter for the police to govern tenancies/rental agreements/adverts
Asking for people who speak certain languages is not racist. Why is it so difficult for some people to understand the difference?

Report this post »

edstar says...
12:09am Sat 1 Sep 12

Surreydon wrote:
Racial predujice/discrimina

tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!

I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!

Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
What has this got to do with Muslims? Do you see Muslims in your tea? Can you not be British and be a Muslim? Can you not be an African, Indian or Pakistani and not be a Muslim?

Personally i am sick of people using Muslims as an excuse for their own problems.

Report this post »

Tobermory says...
12:10am Sat 1 Sep 12

They say 'ignorance breeds racism' I suspect the comments above prove that point!

Report this post »

imalaydee says...
7:14am Sat 1 Sep 12

It is his house where he is renting the room, so he has a perfect right to ask for whoever he wants to live there, if he is Eastern European then it is natural he would wish to live with other Eastern Europeans, the only problem is the fact he explicitly stated that he wanted no Indians, Pakistani etc, whereas he could just have put Eastern Europeans only, so there are racist overtones to the sign, but they are his views and his room so he is entitled to his opinion, rightly or wrongly. I would not be offended if it said no whites.

Report this post »

Surreydon says...
9:30am Sat 1 Sep 12

edstar wrote:
Surreydon wrote:
Racial predujice/discrimina


tion against white people is very much a reality. Many whites are refused employment by black and Asian companies based on their colour!

I love the way the police say they will "follow up on the report". I wonder why they didn't follow up on the report that drivers flying the English flag were 'advised', by police officers, to remove them in case they offended muslims!!

Personally I'm sick of pandering to the immigrant population who constantly moan about, and seek to change, our way of life.
What has this got to do with Muslims? Do you see Muslims in your tea? Can you not be British and be a Muslim? Can you not be an African, Indian or Pakistani and not be a Muslim?

Personally i am sick of people using Muslims as an excuse for their own problems.
You are deliberately missing the point, but no surprise there.

Report this post »

Surreydon says...
9:32am Sat 1 Sep 12

Tobermory wrote:
They say 'ignorance breeds racism' I suspect the comments above prove that point!
Whatever.......

Report this post »

VIOLET50 says...
11:12am Sat 1 Sep 12

People are prejudiced in many ways and want to be with similar types of people not just colour or race but also class etc. The Chinese have communities as do Jews, Muslims, Asians and Koreans. Its the way we are and will always be. Tigers and lions are both Cats but don't live in the same Den. Making issue is what makes trouble.

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VIOLET50 says...
11:12am Sat 1 Sep 12

People are prejudiced in many ways and want to be with similar types of people not just colour or race but also class etc. The Chinese have communities as do Jews, Muslims, Asians and Koreans. Its the way we are and will always be. Tigers and lions are both Cats but don't live in the same Den. Making issue is what makes trouble.

Report this post »

Tobermory says...
9:57am Sun 2 Sep 12

The fact is it is against the law to discriminate on grounds of race. I'm sure the comments would be slightly different if an asian owned business was advertising for a job and said 'no white English applicants' because the owner was being 'honest' and didn't like working with 'white' people!!

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moggy80 says...
10:15pm Sun 2 Sep 12

In the same way I wouldn't really want to live with Eastern Europeans who only want to mix among themselves....I don't think it has anything to do with language or even culture. 'eastern Europe' is a huge place with many different languages and cultures. I think these are closed minded idiots who can't think of a better way to phrase ' I am scared of living by someone who isn't white, because I was taught in school that Africans and Pakistanis are poor and dirty and not as good as me.
I totally agree with people having prefs to who they live with but I think these guys are just advertising their ignorance here. Maybe they should just head home where they can be 99 per cent sure of living next door to a white person.

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moggy80 says...
10:26pm Sun 2 Sep 12

...or maybe they are just worried that if the new tenant is not from a kindred EE country they might tell the landlord about the other 10 EE's Squatting in the same bedroom and working illegally in the local chippy.

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moggy80 says...
10:31pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Surreydon give me the names of those companies (and not family owned businesses) which will not employ white people please and I will follow it up. I very much doubt you will find many!

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kingstonpaul says...
1:37pm Mon 3 Sep 12

This is difficult terrain because it's brought into sharp focus the racist attitudes of Eastern Europeans. While the indigenous population is making great strides in racial integration, others in our midst are more primitive in their outlook. After all, we shouldn't forget that some of the most attrocious episodes of racial cleansing in the last two decades have occurred in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Let's not overlook the rabid growth of far-right factions in some of the ex-Soviet territories as well as Poland. Look at the persecution of Romany gypsies.

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mr-bjp says...
3:01pm Mon 3 Sep 12

I wouldn't allow a Romany gypsy to come into my front garden let alone my house.

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kingstonpaul says...
1:26pm Tue 4 Sep 12

To mr-bjp

Just as well, they'd probably nick the lavender from your flower beds!

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Surreydon says...
11:04am Wed 5 Sep 12

moggy80 wrote:
Surreydon give me the names of those companies (and not family owned businesses) which will not employ white people please and I will follow it up. I very much doubt you will find many!
1. Why not family owned businesses?

2. A lot of the 'problem' businesses are franchised. Try McDonalds, Costcutters, BP & Spar for starters.

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Surreydon says...
11:20am Wed 5 Sep 12

Just to set the record straight for certain 'blinkered' individuals!

I work with, and often for, black, Asian and Eastern European guys (many 2nd & 3rd generation) and, in the main, get on just fine. When we chat about the current state of this country and it's lunatic immigration policies, the majority resent the way politicians and interfering do-gooders are 'causing' resentment and division!!

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