The Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment (Fospah) has declared the denial of residential accommodation to unmarried men and women illegal and unconstitutional.
The ruling followed a complaint filed by a female applicant against the management of a private building. The decision said that no tenancy agreement restricts the provision of residential facilities to unmarried individuals. Any such condition is explicitly discriminatory and stands void from the outset.
"Marital status cannot serve as a lawful ground for denying housing. Such restrictions violate fundamental constitutional principles, including equality and the right to residential freedom," added the decision.
The Fospah has forwarded the decision to federal and provincial authorities, rent controllers, regulators, and relevant stakeholders. The complainant maintained that despite complying with all conditions, she faced discrimination and was denied accommodation solely on the basis of being unmarried.
