It is illegal at both the federal and state level to discriminate against specific types of tenants. As someone considering renting a property, it’s important to know what discrimination forms exist so you can protect yourself. However, if you’re a renter whose landlord has denied you a home for reasons that are unfair, there are things you can do about it. One of those is contacting to hire Elgin real estate lawyers.
What is Landlord Discrimination?
Someone who is renting out property can choose a suitable tenant from those who want the apartment or home. They might consider your credit score, employment, rental history, and criminal records. However, some things are off limits for landlords to use to determine whether to rent to you or not.
- Age
- Ancestry
- Gender Identity
- Marital Status
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexuality
What About Tenants with Children?
A landlord cannot refuse to rent a property to someone based on them having children. The only exception might be in a housing complex that provides services mainly for senior citizens. Tenants are often required to be at least 55 or 60 to reside at these locations and neighbors are not expecting to deal with small children nearby.
What About Personal Preferences?
This depends on location but in many states, a landlord is not able to turn a tenant down simply for being uncomfortable with their personal life. That means unmarried couples, homosexuals, and single people cannot be kept from a rental simply for that identifying factor. A landlord additionally may not prevent a victim of domestic abuse or a violent crime from renting a home just because of a concern that trouble might follow them.
What Rights Do Landlords Have?
For those who are renting only a single room in their home, some of the regular rules that landlords have maybe not apply to you. If you are sharing a house with someone, you may also choose only to live with someone you are comfortable with. If you rent studio apartments, you can also choose not to rent to a family of six or more. It’s also acceptable to refuse tenancy to someone who you believe may not be able to pay rent on time based on their income sources and credit history.
At Jackson Abdalla Law Group, we specialize in real estate and business matters. If you have a problem with a discriminatory landlord, we’d be happy to offer you a free consultation.
