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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

House-hunting Asian couple horrified after homeowner banned them from viewing

A house-hunting Asian couple has told of their anger after a seller banned them from viewing a property calling Indians "time-wasters" seeking a "day out".

Sareena Suman, 34 and her husband Ajay, 33, wanted to view a £375,000 detached house, but were told "there are many other properties you can waste people's time on".

The couple seen the four-bed house in Birmingham on the estate agent Purplebricks' website and immediately fell in love with it.

They messaged vendor Claire Devine, 40, asking for a viewing and were shocked at the response.

The reply said: "I am no longer taking viewings from the Indian and Asian community who are not serious buyers. But just look around properties for sale...as a day out.

The owner of the property branded Asians as non-serious buyers (Triangle News)

"There are many other properties you can waste people's time on so I suggest you go view one of them."

The only information Mrs May had at the time she denied the pair a viewing was Sareena's name.

Sareena said: "It has made me question if everyone is thinking that about me. Do they describe me as 'That Asian girl'? Is my colour or my race a thing to describe me or stereotype me?"

The couple have been married for 10 years and are looking for a house to expand their family.

Purplebricks have said they are no longer selling the property and have refunded the vendor fee.

Mum-of-three Mrs Devine had lived in the house with her children and husband before moving to Sutton Coldfield two years ago.

Mrs Devine told the Daily Mail "'there's a lot more to the story than you know", adding "I'm not the slightest bit racist."

Sales trainer Sareena said she was in disbelief when she read the message.

This is the four-bed £375,000 property the couple fell in love with (Google)

She said: "I had to read the message 15 times before it sank in. At first, it was laughable and I laughed because I didn't know how to feel. And afterwards, the sadness kicked in and I got upset.

“At first, it was laughable and I laughed because I didn’t know how to feel. And afterwards the sadness kicked in and I got upset.

“Now, I’m not as angry as I was because I’ve come to terms with it but it’s just the shock I can’t get over.

This is the message the couple received (Triangle News)

“Where we live currently there’s a minority of Asians and it’s made me look at everyone differently. I’ve never felt like that before.

“I’m now conscious about what I’m saying and if someone is looking at me."

The couple have two children and have had to sit down with their eldest son, six-year-old Jhye, to explain racism to him.

Sareena added: “I’ve always taught my eldest that words are just words. But I found that I had to have that conversation about racism with him.

“The whole experience has made me scared for him.”

Sareena was keen on the property because it was close to her family home where she grew up.

The couple did not respond to the seller but reported them to Purplebricks.

A Purplebricks spokesperson told the Mirror Online: "The sentiments expressed in this message are completely opposed to Purplebricks' views and values.

"As soon as we saw this comment, we told the vendor that we wouldn't sell their house and refunded their fee.

"The house is no longer on the market with Purplebricks.

"We also contacted the buyer to express how appalled we were by this message and apologise that they've had this experience."

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