Rental racism in Singapore
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Lifestyle differences, especially those related to cooking, are at the heart of the divide
Did you know that Singaporeans have a tacit ‘No Indian’ and ‘No Malay’ policy, and even a ‘No People Republic of Chinese (PRC)’ policy when it comes to letting out their homes.
Take the case of Amit Sharma who works with a multinational company and has been living at Singapore for a decade now. Amit eventually decided to buy his own property in a couple of years because at the back of his mind ‘I wanted to live the way I want to without being questioned. There was no evident discrimination but a sense of protectionism from my landlord.”
Of the many options to lease their apartment—the westerners are the first choice as tenants as their cooking habits are different and have a limited family. Besides, when they host people at home, they usually limit it to barbecue pits that helps “in keeping curtains crisp”. Whereas on the other hand Indians, Chinese, Malays, Pinoys have either relatively big families or guests visiting them from their home town who bring their habits with them.Since entertaining at home is part of their culture, they host parties at home making the house prone to wear and tear.
The rental racism is based more on practical reasons rather than any particular dislike for a race or society, says Sharma adding that Singaporeans I have seen are open to let their property to educated Indian families and that they decide after meeting the tenant rather than just let broker decide. But there are also those who have a NO CONSIDERATION policy.
A Singapore based real estate consultant says on condition of anonymity that I personally have received requests from landlords of “no Indians please”. Most of them state that they had bad experiences from previous Indian tenants or not comfortable with the odour due to Indian cooking. But it is perfectly legal for a landlord to specify his/her requirements.
There are some classified listings on websites for prospective tenants that come with the caveat: “Accept all race, except Indian sorry no offence.”
All this has more to do with the lifestyle differences between Indians and Singaporeans. Most Singaporeans eat out and don’t cook at home unless special occasions — they rather find it awkward that Indians cook on a daily basis. The bias in particular for Indians has also to do with the cooking and living habits— Indian food leaves unremovable stains on oven and cookers that is not appreciated by Chinese who are majority landlords in Singapore. It’s not that local Singaporeans don’t like Indian food – in fact they are crazy about Indian cuisine!
Ten years back, Singapore was the place that opened its flood gates for immigrants. A majority of Indian techies moved to Information Technology(IT) companies in Singapore and many banking executives also made the big move. Banking professionals, in a salary range much higher than the rest, opted for the condominium (premium apartments by private developers), whereas IT professionals picked up Housing Development Board (HDB ) flats, which are the main asset of most Singaporeans. Singaporeans get subsidised HDB flats from the Government and gradually that becomes a source of income as they move up the prosperity curve. Majority Singaporeans rent out their HDB and upgrade to Condominiums and more affluent ones have multiple condominiums (condos, as they are commonly referred to) which is a big source of their income.
The influx of migrants is not only from India but also Westerners, Pinoys etc.
For Rohit Behal, an IT Professional who moved with his wife and daughter seven years back, the reason why many Indians end up buying a home at Singapore is ‘to cut interference from owners.’
He attributes this racism to the fear of getting their property spoiled as compared to others. But when they can’t find others they do rent to Indians of course with conditions implied and stricter contracts on maintenance etc, he adds. He reveals another cause of this rental racism – “there is bias towards anyone who can’t gel with the local behaviour - both Migrant Indian and Chinese (PRC) have a “loud body language” that makes them stand out and this doesn’t go well with the locals.”
Landlords argue that it is private property and they have a right to refuse.
Tim Chan,a Singaporean resident gives the landlord perspective saying if ‘I can control who gets to visit my house it seems absurd that I shouldn’t be allowed to control who gets to stay in it.”
He adds that race is a simple way to distinguish who’s local and who is not—there are very few places where people welcome foreigners exactly the way they welcome their own. He argues that one cannot call this rental racism. He feels that racism is still common in most parts of the world but in Singapore there is are preferences which are implied and implicit and tolerable.
As with other countries, there is a tendency for nationalities to ‘hole up’ together for a sense of security at Singapore as well. Japanese and Koreans have their preferred clusters of localities, so do Indians.For instance, Indians tend to congregate around Indian or International schools.But are there any specific places where the Indians like to stay? There are pockets such as Bayshore park, Melville park etc and these are condominiums with majority Indians. There are a few emerging residential pockets such as Pungool where new developments have come with Indian schools in proximity. Also there are localities which are a complete no-no for Indians –such as the condominiums where there are more Chinese and cause of their concentration but not because Indians can’t afford to live!
Ramesh Nanda, a banker with a multinational bank at Singapore sums it up by saying – “Singapore continues to be a dynamic multi-cultural society where people from so many different countries and continents live in near-harmony side-byside.Migrant Indians are increasingly becoming significant contributors to the society through tax and education so perception moving away from the Indians that came to this country as workers. I view this rental racism as a temporary thing which will change for the better with the new-age Singaporeans having a far better and open mindset.’