Cant rent a house because Im not married?

Question

I called my friends landlord to see if I could possibly rent a house from him for me and my fiancee. He asks me all these personal questions about my love life. (if Im married, when will i get married, etc...). I tell him i am getting married in October of this year and he says "In all honesty, its my policy to only rent to people who are married, or single. I dont just rent to couples." He's a real religious Christian guy so I understand where he is coming from. But isnt this discrimination? && wouldnt this be forcing people to get married just so they would have a place to stay? I think its kind of sad if you ask me.

Answer 1

Listen, man, if this guy is asking personal questions like this and judging you already than I wouldn't want to live in his house in the first place. Imagine, your going to have to deal with this guy for a year+!! RUN!!

Answer 2

Federal laws doesn't cover protection for "non-married couples" (kids & other legal dependents yes).  A landlord might have to allow for visitors and occassional overnight guests (based on local ordinances / local laws) but they might be allowed to deny a permanent resident such as a live-in boyfriend / fiance (you will have to check with the laws if it is really that important to you.).  

Unless living space is hard to come by and the deal is really great, it simply isn't worth the effort to bother.  Do you really want to have a landlord who you just pissed in his Wheaties?  

Answer 3

It is legal if it is in their rental contract,provided the landlord has the tenant sign the contract before accepting rent or allowing them to move in.This is only what I think,but I have been a landlord before and did not allow unmarried or g*y couples to live there

Answer 4

yes it is discrimination but i know why he is saying that if you are just going out or engaged then there is a better chance of you splitting up and it is more hassle for him. but no he should not have even asked you personal questions like that  

Answer 5

Haha... thanks for the laugh... it's like there is only one house for rent in the whole world or all landlords are the same....

I'm a landlord myself and even though I haven't made any policies about it, I do feel more comfortable about married couples because of a better stability, I guess.  

Answer 6

Well, he's not telling you that you can't live ANYWHERE, just not at HIS property. Is it discrimination if they don't allow pets or children? All landlords have their own standards. It would only be forcing people to get married if they wanted to live there. They have the right to live somewhere else.

Answer 7

Only certain states make it illegal for him to rent to you based on your marital status.

they are Alaska, California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

if you think your rights have been violated then you can check with HUD for the Fair Housing Act and file a complaint against him there.

Answer 8

um hes a kook do you really want to live there??? think about it

but, he can rent to who he wants.  the second those personal questions were asked i wouldve split. he will be up in your business nite and day.

Answer 9

I say, if he's not paying for your wedding and other expenses, then he needs to mind his business.

Answer 10

Yes, it's discrimination. No, it's not illegal. Married/Single is not a statutory class. And why should this man, a private person with private property be forced to sell rights to use his property to you? You're being yet another whiny twit who thinks anyone who thwarts anything they want to do is violating their "rights." Just because you have lots of whiny company doesn't mean you not a twit. If it were my property, I'd rent it to you, married or not. He thinks differently. Phffft!  

Answer 11

He can rent to who ever he wants it has a lot to do with couples splitting up and leaving him holding the bag if race is not involved he is not discriminating against you..

Btw i wouldn't rent to you either something about your attitude raises red flags to me get married first before you start trying to play house.

Answer 12

You should report him because he can't discriminate on marital status.

Answer 13

That is illegal.

Answer 14

no he can not do that, he has no right to refuse you because you are not married. He better be careful because he could find himself in a law suit.

wow I just got to laugh at all of us getting thumbs down. Must be a bunch of  hard line Christians on this form or something. I am a land lord so even tho I try to screen tenants for things I like or dislike I still have to obey the law. As long as someone has good credit, pays their rent on time, obeys the lease agreement and is clean and quiet it is none of my business what they do in their personal life. If I could chose people that I would not rent to, it would be people with teenagers!!! They cause a million times more problems than a young couple planning to be married.