Study: Moroccan names lead to fewer rental housing chances, many rental agents participate in discrimination

Research by the Verwey-Jonker Institute indicates that individuals with Moroccan-sounding names face significant discrimination when seeking rental housing across most of the Netherlands. Interestingly, Amsterdam serves as a notable exception, as applicants with Moroccan names do not encounter the same disadvantage there. Researchers suggest that this regional disparity may be linked to the higher prevalence of Moroccan residents in the capital, potentially reducing bias rooted in unfamiliarity. Conversely, the study found no evidence of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender when applying for rentals.

Separately, the investigation conducted mystery calls to rental agents to gauge their willingness to comply with discriminatory requests to exclude foreigners. The results were concerning, as nearly 80 percent of contacted agents failed to explicitly reject such discriminatory demands. Instead, many agents offered indirect methods to filter out specific groups, such as prioritizing Dutch speakers or using the viewing process to judge personal backgrounds. These findings highlight a pervasive issue where many intermediaries are willing to accommodate biases against potential tenants despite official anti-discrimination regulations.