Techotic

This Irish person in south Belfast seems to be living in the 60s, when he advertised his house for rent with a sign which said it was “not available to any foreigners”.

The man who had advertised the house for rent said he had experienced problems in the past when a foreign tenant was intimidated.

“I rented the property to a Romanian guy. Last week the windows were put in and the bin got burned. He was really scared and just left and is living in a hostel now,” he said.

The sign was condemned by Alliance MLA various equality bodies such as, Alliance MLA and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Alliance MLA Anna Lo said the sign on the house in the Donegall Road area was disgraceful.

“To treat other human beings like that is simply appalling,” she said.

Bob Collins, chief commissioner at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, said the advertisement was illegal.

“You cannot say no foreigners. You cannot say English speakers only - the law is absolutely clear,” he said.

Since the condemnation the sign has been changed to : “I am renting this property without prejudice to anyone in the whole wide world. But please be aware there are a number of criteria suitable candidates must pass before being eligible to rent this property. I am looking for tenants, whom the neighbourhood like, who keep their noise down and will not attract attention to themselves.”

[via bbc news]