A woman identified as Uchechi Ewelike has opened up about the discrimination she allegedly faces from landlords and caretakers in Port Harcourt because of her facial hair.
In a Facebook post shared on May 5, the realtor recounted several painful experiences she encountered while searching for accommodation in the city.
Narrating one of the incidents, Uchechi said a caretaker, who was also the landlord’s sister, asked to see her physically before making a decision.
She explained that she travelled from Owerri for the meeting, only to later discover that the apartment had been rented to someone else.
According to her:
“The first one was done by the landlord’s sister, who is the caretaker. I came down from Owerri because she requested to see me first. After meeting with her, she said she would get back to me, that she wanted to fix some things in the house.”
She added that the caretaker later admitted she refused to rent the apartment to her because of her appearance.
Uchechi also recounted another experience involving a landlord who allegedly sent her to his lawyer to process rental documents before later rejecting her application.
“The landlord said he is afraid of renting his house to me… He didn’t want to say it out; maybe he just wanted it to look like it was the lawyer that rejected me,” she wrote.
She further alleged that another landlord attempted to discourage her by inflating the rent and requesting a two-year payment plan, only for the same apartment to later be rented out at the normal price.
According to her:
“It looks like the landlord doesn’t want to give you the house ooo. That was his reason for the rent hike. According to him, he is not comfortable with your look and confidence.”
Despite the repeated setbacks, Uchechi said she remains hopeful and vowed to one day become a landlady in Port Harcourt.
She also revealed that the discrimination she has experienced over the years has negatively affected her emotionally and mentally.
“Honestly, I have faced different challenges growing up as a child till now, not because I’m disabled, but just because I’m hairy. It has pushed me into isolation, depression, and mental and emotional stress,” she lamented.
See the post below:
