Indicator history

Close Window

Is there evidence of denial of housing/housing rights for certain ethnic groups?

Code:
RED69
Key Area:
Housing & Segregation
Strand(s):
Racism, Discrimination
11/03/2012 - 14:36
Short Answer

Yes.

Qualitative Info

 

The Equality Ombudsman reported in the annual report of 2010 that most complaints are on access to housing both when it comes to the rental market, including the rental criteria (förmedlingssystem), as well as the housing cooperative (bostadsraättsmarknaden). Housing  discrimination has serious consequences because housing is such a basic need, but also because complaints indicate that families with children suffer most. The most common grounds for discrimination are ethnicity, religion and disability.

On 31 July 2010, the Equality Ombudsman submitted a report to the government about discrimination in the housing market. The study is based on "situation-testing" and covers discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability and sexual orientation. The housing rental market was examined through nearly 400 phone calls to 150 landlords in 90 different locations. The housing cooperative market (bostadsrättsmarknaden) was examined through a total of 44 visits to different apartments for sale in Stockholm, Helsingborg and Lund. Discrimination occurred both in large cities, medium-sized cities and small towns. Overall, it was found that housing discrimination is a structural phenomenon that directly impacts people's lives, particularly migrants. Discrimination occurred both in large cities, medium-sized cities and small towns. Discrimination affected the ground of ethnicity to a greater extent than the other grounds of discrimination.The people most affected by housing discrimination are people of Finnish origin, Roma and Muslims and Africans. The study reveals that housing discrimination is more common in the rental market than in the housing cooperatives. The Equality Ombudsman also revealed in its Annual Report 2010, that complaints from Roma constitute 20% of the complaints on discrimination in the housing market, both in terms of provision of apartments for rent and purchase of private apartments. Discriminatory behaviour and harassment by landlords or neighbours is also reported.

 


The Equality ombudsman, Discrimination on the housing market, 2010, (accessed 2011.03.02).http://www.do.se/Documents/Material/Rapporter/Diskriminering%20p%C3%A5%20bostadsmarknaden.pdf

 
 

 

 

 

 
Data
Groups affected/interested Migrants, Roma & Travelers, Muslims, Ethnic minorities, Africans/black people, National minorities
Type (R/D)
Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas Housing
External Url http://www.do.se/Documents/Material/Rapporter/Diskriminering%20p%C3%A5%20bostadsmarknaden.pdf
Situation(s)
Library