Landlord seeks ‘European only’ woman for flatmate

A man is seeking a flatmate to help with housework and look after his dog in exchange for reduced rent.

As part of the agreement, the person will pay about $100 per week to live at the three-bedroom property on Auckland’s Waiheke Island.

But the deal is only available to women – preferably European women.

In a now-deleted Trade Me listing, the advertiser said his ideal flatmate would be a ‘‘female, mature, open minded, peaceful’’ dog lover with a healthy lifestyle. It specified: ‘‘European only’’.

While the Human Rights Act bans landlords from discriminating against tenants, there is an exception for shared accommodation.

That means people can legally specify who they want to live with, including the flatmate’s ethnicity.

However, in 2018, a Trade Me listing saying applications from Indian people would not be accepted sparked complaints and was branded as racist.

When contacted by Stuff, the man who placed the ad for the Waiheke property claimed he wasn’t racist and had a Zimbabwean woman coming to view the property yesterday: ‘‘I don’t know if she’s black or white. That doesn’t bother me.’’

He preferred women flatmates because in his experience they were more responsible than men.

The man, who gave his name only as Glenn, described himself as a business owner in his 50s who enjoyed gardening, boating and good food and wine.

He worked long hours and travelled a lot so needed a flatmate he can trust, he said.

Glenn also expressed an aversion to tattoos and smoking, so women with body art or a nicotine addiction need not apply.