A couple have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission after being denied a rental property based on race and marital status.
An Auckland couple aged in their 30s, who wished not to be named, thought they'd hit the jackpot when they came across a two-bedroom house in the east Auckland suburb of Highland Park last week.
A property manager ran two viewings and took the couple's application, as the owners were based in China.
The female applicant said she thought they were in with a good shot of securing the home so she was shocked to receive a call from the agent on Friday saying their application had not been successful "because we weren't Asian or Chinese".
The applicants felt they had fallen victim to racial discrimination.
"I've made a complaint to the Human Rights Commission because I think we need to send a message that this is not on.
"I treat everybody fairly. It doesn't matter what race you are, I take people at face value."
The couple hadn't had any direct contact with the family who owned the property, but the letting agent had tried to help by recommending another property.
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Auckland Property Investors' Association vice president Peter Lewis said the case presented a "pretty open and shut case of illegal discrimination".
"In my view, the correct action for that agent to take would be to go back to the owners and point out that this is an illegal act in New Zealand.
"If they insisted on doing that, she should say she can't act for them on this property because they are asking her to commit an illegal act.
"It is like an employer asking you to go and burgle somebody's house. The fact that they have asked you to do it, does not make it legal."
Lewis, who has been a landlord for 26 years and has several rental properties in South Auckland, said he hadn't heard of many instances of discrimination quite as blatant as this example.
He said all landlords should base their decisions on factual information such as credit history and past landlord references.
He also recommended that landlords or property managers didn't give a reason when declining potential tenants.
"You are perfectly entitled not to give a reason, and we strongly advise you don't because if you give a reason then you are asking for an argument," he said.
"What I normally just say is that the application has been unsuccessful."
In this case, the property manager said her lack of inexperience in the role contributed to her divulging more information than necessary.
"[The landlords] had told me that in confidence and if anything is to blame, it is my inexperience, un-professionalism, and honesty," she said.
"I apologise my inexperience has led to this big misunderstanding
- she already acknowledge her own mistakes and now used by media ( potentially politician) to launch a campaign against chinese landlords.
- in 1970s, if you have a chinese surname, it is difficult to rent a place in london...... now is the reversal as more landlords are asian / chinese.
It is the world that is changing... haha.
It is like if you don't want to eat cheese, european food, you just said no, you don't have to give reason.
This renting thing is the same principle, just smile and text, "application is not successful, good luck next time";
- talking too much will invite more argument, and end up in the news.... haha..