Question 2

Editor's note

About 70% of respondents said they had experienced racism.

Of the people who answered this question, about 70% said they had experienced racism or discrimination in the property sector in some form, an overwhelming majority. The 30% who said they had not tended to respond to the survey with a one-word or very short answer. It is difficult to put that across in an article of this kind, but that needs to be flagged. — Mike Phillips, UK Editor

Residential professional

There is always racism and I am seen as the angry black woman. For anyone else it would be seen as being passionate or emotional.

I have heard comments quite a few times, mainly by colleagues. Comments on my hair are constant. As I don't have straight hair, my hair has been compared to a Brillo pad. My hair has been referred to as 'scary'. I was told by a colleague from a different office that I don’t look like someone who works for my company. There is always racism and I am seen as the angry black woman. For anyone else it would be seen as being passionate or emotional.

Development consultant

I was assumed to work in the post room at a global real estate firm.

Finance professional

I was called a ‘Jihad’.

I was called a 'Jihad' a few years back by a colleague. For the first time in my career I felt vulnerable as well as disgusted. I was not given the same salary or promotion opportunity as another white male, despite having more experience within the industry and the company.

HR professional

I wish people would be more cautious.

I wouldn't say racism, but definitely ignorant comments. From what I have seen, often people say something as a joke but really it isn't funny at all, it's annoying, rude and awkward. I wish people would be more cautious with what they say to others from a different background, race or ethnicity.

Housebuilder

During my time in a local authority, elected members made comments that were not entirely appropriate regarding Muslims and Gypsies, Travellers and travelling show people.

HR professional

She continued to get our names wrong and when confronted stated that ‘we look the same’.

It has happened twice. I was in a situation where the receptionist kept calling me the name of my fellow black colleague. She continued to get our names wrong and when confronted stated that "we look the same". Harmless but ignorant. Second situation: I was washing up my bowl and there was a poster of a black man in front of me. The poster was about a new system. A lady asked me what I was doing and asked if the poster was for "your black empowerment month". Again, seemed harmless but ignorant.

Residential developer

Not that I am aware of, but it is difficult to say for sure as I doubt this would be overt. 

Not that I am aware of, but it is difficult to say for sure as I doubt this would be overt. Do agents favour people they know when considering bids? How do we break unconscious biases in a relationship-driven industry?

Commercial property professional

A senior director made a racist joke about a particular race, my race, and the room erupted with laughter.

Danny Baker was fired from Radio 5 Live for tweeting a picture of a chimpanzee and calling it the Royal baby today (09/05/19). My white colleagues said that Danny Baker did not do anything wrong and [they] could not see how it could possibly be racist. I was astonished that my colleagues could be so dismissive of the deeply offensive connotations of the situation.

I think colleagues at my company need to be educated on white privilege and racism. I've always been paid less at an institutional level than my white colleagues. I've had jokes about my name. In a marketing meeting, a senior director made a racist joke about a particular race, my race, and the room erupted with laughter. Probably the most uncomfortable experience of my career.

Valuation professional

It has been very difficult to find a job or even to secure a job interview even for junior positions. The standard response is ‘you are very good but not quite what we are looking for’.

Property research

I am mistaken for catering staff or a bathroom attendant at property conferences.

I don’t think I have ever experienced overt racism in the industry, but there are times where a comment has been made, often not even addressed to me, or there have been indirect things like being mistaken for catering staff or a bathroom attendant at property conferences. That makes me question whether there is an education issue or issue around unconscious bias which has perhaps been created in the past by a lack of diversity.

Planning professional

This has included being micro managed and having greater scrutiny over my work.

I think so, and this has included being micro managed and having greater scrutiny over my work. I have also felt highly visible and there has often been a running commentary about my comings and goings, for example.

Commercial real estate professional

I was called a ‘token Indian’ for photos for the company. It made me sad, upset and angry.

Affordable housing consultant

A colleague assumed I got a graduate job because I am black and it was positive discrimination. 

A colleague assumed I got a graduate job because I am black and it was positive discrimination. I felt undermined and underestimated. It also made me wonder whether there was truth to it.

Architecture and construction professional

General racist statements about black people, particularly of African origin, during a team meeting.

A consultant on the project I was working on made general racist statements about black people, particularly of African origin, during a team meeting. The option to formalise complaints was given to me.

Planning comms professional

On the receiving end of curry jokes.

I was called an Indian princess, and have been on the receiving end of curry jokes. It inspired me to start my own property networking group. There is a lot of unconscious bias — I think the industry is improving but still a long way to go to pick people based on talent, not what is comfortable.

Communications executive

There is casual racism and jokes.

There is casual racism and jokes. Clients calling me by the name of another BAME colleague, it makes you angry but you just laugh it off. White counterparts got their promotions earlier than anticipated but I am being held back. Comments made by senior white men about pockets of London that have high BAME populations make you feel sick and angry.

Planning professional

I have been to a meeting with councillors who used the N word to describe black people.

I did work for Gypsies and Travellers and we did an awareness-raising training session for councillors. They were told not to use a certain derogatory P word to describe Gypsies. The members said they thought that word was harmless and likened it to calling an Indian person another offensive P word. Or a Chinese person a C word. I have also been to a meeting with councillors who used the N word to describe black people.

Developer

It made me question my worth as a professional and whether I am considered lesser due to the colour of my skin.

I have never in the UK suffered from any obvious racism, however I have felt subconscious undertones. It made me question my worth as a professional and whether I am considered lesser due to the colour of my skin.

Sustainability professional

Thankfully my colleagues called out this poor behaviour but it made little change.

I received Islamophobic comments. I was shocked and appalled and received little support form my organisation. I have been ignored in meetings and spoken down to, whilst being the most competent person in the room. Thankfully my colleagues called out this poor behaviour but it made little change.

Finance professional

One particular incident concerned the use of the N word.

Too many to mention. One particular incident concerned the use of the “N” word. I challenged its use in the office and was advised that the two people concerned were talking about a World War II movie called 'The Dam Busters'; the cast of which included a Labrador called the N word. I know that the intention was to insult, hurt or make a colleague of mine feel put upon. I reported it to HR who issued a warning. I felt angry that this sort of thing still happens.

Planning professional

I do feel that people are encouraging diversity more and more in all industries.

I have never received direct racism. I do feel that people are encouraging diversity more and more in all industries. There may be some instances where people at my level have had additional help from knowing others/ family/ friends who are this industry, but I haven’t had that support. There has been no direct discrimination. However, I come from Slough, an area with the highest proportion of religious adherents and ethnicities in the UK. I have often heard comments from others about Slough not being the greatest place in terms of its development, which may be true, but I believe it has more to offer in terms of culture than most places in the UK.