Finding rental accommodation in India’s big cities is already difficult, but sometimes, landlords’ arbitrary requirements make it even harder. A recent post on social media has reignited debate about subtle discrimination in urban housing—this time, based on food habits.
Chennai resident Prashanth Rangaswamy shared a screenshot on X of a message he got from a potential landlord: “Sorry sir. Looking at veg families only.” Prashanth quipped, “Eating non-veg is injurious to finding flats for rent in Chennai,” highlighting how dietary choices are increasingly used as a filter.
The post drew widespread attention, with many users venting frustration over such biases. “This isn’t just about food. People refuse tenants because of caste or religion. If you are Muslim, some landlords will simply say no,” commented one user, pointing out how exclusion runs deeper than diet.
Some defended the practice, arguing that property owners have every right to set their own terms. “His house, his rules. Buy your own house and rent it out however you wish,” one person wrote.
A more nuanced opinion came from a user who said they could see both sides: “I have vegetarian friends who say the smell of meat makes them nauseous. I can’t imagine forcing them to tolerate it.”
Others stressed that while landlords’ preferences can be inconvenient, they shouldn’t be equated with caste-based discrimination, which is a more serious problem