HOUSING DISCRIMINATION?

Question

I wanted to know if the following situations present as housing discrimination. We live in a non-owner occupied single-family home in NJ. There is a garage 1-bdrm apt on the premises also rented. The landlord has done the following:

US: We wanted a dog, "no pets" clause in Lease; asked again if we could have a dog, told no, and never did.

THEM: Allowed new tenant to have a large, noisy dog who moved in 1 yr after us. When confronted LL stated "he was supposed to bring the dog to work w/him" (he's not disabled).

US: Rent to be paid on 1st, no later than 5th or $50 fee. Took us to court when late 10 days (late because had surgery to remove cancer tumor).

THEM: Allows tenant to pay rent in installments. Always, late, never taken him to court for non-payment or lateness.

US: Utilities to be placed in our name.

THEM: Utilities still have not been switched over in 8 months to tenants name in Landlord's name. Landlord took us to court because we were late with our sewer bill (case thrown out).

US: Black woman married to Hispanic man

THEM: White

Reading on housing discrimination, does this apply?

Answer 1

If you think it's discrimination, you shouldn't have to include your race or theirs in your argument.

Answer 2

Could be, but do you know if the landlord knows this person?  If it's your landlord's friend that may play a part in it, cutting his friend some slack. Anyway if it's housing discrimination what do you hope to gain out of it, it may not be worth a fight, best bet would be to move when the lease is up and put it behind you.  If you really want to fight it talk to a lawyer.  

Answer 3

Well, he didn't discriminate when he let you and your husband move in.  So in that case at least we know that he is not prejudice.  I really don't understand why he let them have a dog and not you.  Did the tenant lie and tell the landlord that he needed it as a working dog.  Does the dog perform tasks or assists with the tenants needs, is the other tenant disabled in any way.  If is a working dog, the landlord has to let him have it, if it is needed.  As far as the rent being paid in installments, it may have been set up that way in the lease when they moved in.  The utility thing, I really don't understand.  Are you sure that the other tenant isn't paying him extra for utilities included in his rent?  It may be possible that the other tenant couldn't put the utilities in their name because they had bad credit, or owed the utility company money to put it back on. You would really have to know under what the circumstances are with the other tenants before you pass judgment. It may be that he is discriminating against you, but you need to get the whole story before you judge.  I am sorry you feel offended, and I hope you can get the straightened out.  Have you confronted the landlord about all of these concerns?    

Answer 4

It DOESN'T.

Just because something bad happens to you and you are a minority, doesn't equal discrimination.

You signed a lease knowing that you couldn't have an animal. There is no law that states that he can't cut the both of you a different deal.  Maybe he allowed the man to have a pet b/c he had a better job, had better credit, signed a longer lease, maybe he's worried that a dog destroying an apartment wouldn't be as bad as one destroying a house.

I can think of a TON of reasons.

I don't believe you on the late rent, that your landlord took you to court.  No court will hear a "late rent" case unless you are a FULL 30 days behind.   That means that if your rent was due on August 1st, the landlord cannot take you to court for non-payment until September 1st.

Also, only ONE of you were in the hospital.  That didn't prevent you from paying the rent early or the one that wasn't having surgery from paying it.

You think mortgage companies take that excuse when you fail to pay?  Heck no they don't.

So don't make it up as you go along.

You are also lying about how the tenant pays the rent and if he's on time or late.  Because you are NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT to see the checks/cash change hands.  You just don't know.

How they have the utilities set up, is part of the lease, again, none of your business and they don't have to be the same.

I have several rental properties...some they pay the utilities, some, I pay them.  I am not required by law to make them the same.

Knock yourself out...but pay your bills, follow your lease, and I GUARANTEE you won't have trouble with the LL.

Answer 5

Is the landlord living up to the terms of the lease that you signed with him.  Is the apartment kept up the furnace and plumbing working.  The agreement that you have with the landlord is what you would have to take to court if you filed discrimination against him.  The agreement that the landlord has with your neighbor has nothing to do with you.  If you agreed to no dogs then no dogs . Did you tell the landlord in advance about the illness and that you needed extra time, Utilities well what's in your lease is in your lease and what  is in your neighbors lease is the business of the landlord and them.  If you feel you are being discriminated against then you should try to renovate the lease to terms that you feel are fair

Answer 6

The only gripe I see is the dog.  He is holding you to stated rules. The only way you know about his leniency to them is by prying, it's not overt, except for the dog.

Answer 7

No, it is not housing discrimination.  You ARE renting housing, aren't you ?  Landlords are allowed to have differing terms of payment and lease arrangements with tenants.  You are ASSUMING that your terms seem more stringent than do their because of racial issues.  You have NO evidence that this is the case.

Furthermore, just how do you get all this confidential information about how the OTHER tenants handle their rent arrangements ?