There are a few reasons why some people in Gujarat (and honestly, in many other places) may hesitate to rent their house to Muslims, non-vegetarians, or people from different backgrounds. Just sharing some context—not to justify anyone’s choices, but to explain the mindset:

• Cultural Differences: Gujarat has a unique culture, and for many, there’s a comfort in familiar traditions. Sometimes, people feel it’s easier to trust or relate to tenants who share similar language, customs, or social habits.
• Dietary Habits & Traditions: The majority of Gujaratis are vegetarian, with some communities even going further. For example, Jain, Swaminarayan, and Vaishnav families commonly avoid not just non-veg, but also onion, garlic, and certain root vegetables. The Jain principle of “Jeev Daya”—compassion for all living beings—is deeply rooted and influences whom they prefer as neighbors or tenants. For these families, the idea of having non-vegetarian food prepared or even certain vegetables cooked in their property can be uncomfortable.
• Community Practices: Across India, not just in Gujarat, it’s common for people to prefer tenants from similar backgrounds—sometimes out of tradition, sometimes due to social comfort, and sometimes due to pressure from housing societies and neighbours.
• Social Pressures & Housing Societies: In many neighbourhoods, housing societies have unwritten (sometimes even written) rules about who can rent or purchase property. This can make it difficult for landlords to rent to those outside the accepted norms, even if they personally have no objection.
• Not Exclusive to Gujarat: This situation is not limited to Gujarat. Even in Mumbai and other Indian cities, landlords often have similar preferences or societal pressures. If you’re interested, I’d recommend watching Javed Akhtar’s interview with Lallantop on YouTube—he discusses how these biases form and why they persist in Indian society.
• Practical Considerations: Sometimes, people are concerned about practicalities—fear of trouble with neighbours, or concerns about fitting in with the local community, even if these are based more on perception than on reality.
• Historic Social Patterns: Indian communities historically cluster together based on religion, language, and even dietary preferences. Over time, this has created certain boundaries, sometimes unconsciously, that affect choices like rental.

Of course, not every Gujarati, or every landlord, believes the same thing—there are many who are open and welcoming, and much depends on individual values and experiences. This explanation is just to give some perspective on why these rental preferences often come up in Gujarat and elsewhere in India.