A real estate agent was issued a warning after telling a client that an apartment was available only to Lithuanians, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson said on Tuesday.
“In this case, there was insufficient evidence to prove that the apartment was not rented to the applicant solely because of his nationality. However, a violation of equal opportunities was established because discriminatory information had been provided,” Said Audronė Daukšaitė-Timpė, head of the Legal Group at the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson.
The equality watchdog said it received the complaint from a foreign national after they were denied the opportunity to rent a property. The real estate agent said that the apartment was rented only to Lithuanians, but promised to discuss the matter with the owner.
Patera, the small firm represented by the agent, acknowledged that expressing a preference for Lithuanian tenants was inappropriate.
However, the company denied that it selected tenants based on nationality or ethnicity, saying the decision was made by the property owner.
Lithuania’s laws prohibit refusing to rent a property on the grounds of nationality or race, as well as a person’s family status, disability, or gender.
Discriminatory advertisements are also outlawed.
A study carried out by the watchdog last year found that many foreigners who come to Lithuania face difficulties when searching for housing.
They are often forced to live in overcrowded or lower-quality accommodation, pay higher rents, or rent without an official contract.
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