Discriminated? Please help?

Question

The story is as follows. My friend and I, both single moms, work together and make same income. Excellent credit score. We want to rent an apartment in a nice complex. (each one her own ) She gets accepted. I get rejected. She is caucasian, Im not.

When I ask why they come up with stupid excuses. and when I say that my friend did get in, they say: Oh, I guess we made a mistake letting her in. They claim is the income but my income is more than what they request.

How can I complain? Is equal housing rights for renters as well?

Thank you

Answer 1

Yes, renters are covered by fair housing laws.  For fair housing violations, you can either file a lawsuit or first file an administrative agency complaint.  There are federal and state fair housing laws that would apply.  State laws vary from state to state.  

I suggest you try to find a Fair Housing Organization in your area and discuss your situation with them.  They may even have knowledge of the particular apartment complex.  They may be able to do "testing," which is similar to what you and your friend did--sending out equally qualified applicants of different races and seeing if they are treated differently.

Answer 2

Yes, equal housing.

I would just like to suggest a few other reasons this may have happened.  I hate the fact that you may have been rejected based on your race, religion, whatever...  that's despicable, so I am NOT trying to defend this apartment complex, but here are a few other things to consider before you go all the way with this one:

- You may not have filled out all the paperwork properly, or submitted all the required documents

- In doing their check on your rental history, a landlord may have reported something negative against you- THIS COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN AN ERROR!!

- If your income is MORE than they request, you may actually be OVER a threshold for this complex.  If they are getting state support, etc, they are required not to take tenants who make more than a certain amount AND/OR who have ASSETS over a certain amount.  I know you said your friend makes the same as you, but if they checked your banking records and you hold more in savings, or in investments, etc, you may find that it's your ASSETS that put you past that line.

I would investigate all the OTHER options before you sick the "discrimination cops" on them.  Besides that, just as a side note, what do you hope to achieve from that?  You CERTAINLY don't want them to allow you to move in, because if you have caused them legal pain, you won't be treated like every other tenant ANYWAY...  you know what I mean?  You NEED to go to another apartment complex ANYWAY, because IF these guys really WERE denying you based on race- you don't want to put up with that garbage!  

Answer 3

yes, equal housing rights are for renters. google "Fair Housing Act" and see the books from nolo.com, which are probably in your local library.

but you were not necessarily discriminated against on basis of race - what is the history of the company, what are the rest of the tenants like?  

Answer 4

Make sure the apartment doesn't have an income mandate . . . basically you have to make above certain amount and you have to make below a certain amount . . . they exclude people who make too much money . . .  the "more" part of your question raised the flag . . .

If this is a licensed real estate agent, file a complaint with NAR and the state licensing board . . .if not, start on your state's attorney general's office . . . they will have a sub-branch that deals with "fair housing" . . . The Federal Act is called just that "The Fair Housing Act."  Most states require a certain number of complaints before they investigate . . . For instance if you are the only one making the complaint then nothing will happen . . . but if you are the third or fourth you may see some action . . .

Also . . . different states have different qualifiers for the Fair Housing Act . . . In Florida . . . the owner must own over four rental properties . . . four and under you can do what you want . . . without civil recourse . . . four and up you must comply.

Answer 5

atty general or something like that. They have commercials here in CA on where to call if you have been discriminated against in housing. Try Googling housing discrimination in your state....