Not Renting to the Disabled??

[tuffmustang]

A neighbor of mine is disabled and has to moved.

A duplex she was looking at to rent refused to rent to her because of her being disabled.

Is this legal?

If not, who can we report this to?

[Jay]

Yah, it is illegal due to disabilities act.

I'd check this out

Disability Rights Commission

www.drc-gb.org/

[SunnyKC]

did they actually TELL her that was the reason she was refused? If they did.. well.. they are just stupid... and should be sued!!

That is a great site.. she should find help there!

[gridbug]

Big difference whether that reason was given by the lessor or the lessee. Also was it in writing or recorded somehow? If not it is one person's word against another.

If I were renting a place I would just say yea or nay. Explaining your reasoning seems to be what gets you in trouble. Just ask Alberto G.

[xterragirl]

It can still be reported under the Fair Housing Act. They take these things very seriously.

[tuffmustang]

I think she was just told. nothing in writing. But I could be wrong. I will find out later tonight when I get home.

She was told she didn;t make enough from her monthly check to afford to live there.



The person she was talking to would have to talk to "Judy"( or some name or another).

Funny thing, thats what the name tag she was wearing said.

[Laura Rice]

She was told she didn;t make enough from her monthly check to afford to live there.

There is a big difference in not being able to pay the rent and being disabled, if this is what she was told. A lot of people get turned down if the landlord doesn't think they can make rent.

[voxpopuli]

They can be turned down if the apartment can not be made handicapped accessible within reasonable limits. If it's a two story building with stairs at either end, then no, they don't have to install an elevator to rent you a second-floor room.

However, this sounds like a dickhead being a dickhead, so report them and let them answer to the authorities for being such dickheads.

[tuffmustang]

She can afford it. She had proof of that.

[tuffmustang]

Where do you report this?

[one]

I always figured that people who did that would end up in a car accident and lose a leg or two then be forced to live through not being rented to for the rest of their lives.

........... I can dream can't I?

[Felix]

Where do you report this?

She can start here:


Fair Housing

City Hall Annex
Chattanooga, TN 37402
[phone]

If she is outside the city, they can direct her to the appropriate folks, I suspect.

[Jay]

tuffmustang said:

The person she was talking to would have to talk to "Judy"( or some name or another).

Funny thing, thats what the name tag she was wearing said.

It was another Judy.....right, that's the ticket... heh


Edit: Ltrhcsd1 is right....they can deny you if they believe your income wouldn't be able to pay the rent.

[tuffmustang]

OK, First she was told because she was on diabilty, they wouldn't rent to her.

Then the lady changed her tone and said she couldn't afford it. But my neighbor had proof that she could.

She probaly won;t wnat to take the time to follow up on it.

She is going to try and stay where she is now.

But thanks for the info folks.

[ScarlettP]

It normally comes down to that. If the Landlord is a jerk, you don't want to live in his property anyway... that's how they get away with it.

[LimitedRecourse]

Report them. How will things change if no one will act?

[fakermage]

I have a many differently able family and friends. I also have rental property. While I would not refuse to rent to a person who needs assistance from the government, I would also be reluctant to rent to them.

You cant go after their checks for back rent, you can seldom get them out if they don't pay, and eviction takes months. So I can see both side of the deal. I rent the property to make money.

The rent has to cover it's morgage and repairs, and i'd like to make a couple of bucks for my time and effort. Most people who rent Just think you are trying to take advantage of them, when what you really are doing is trying to make a buck.

Lets look at one of the properties I have.

Mortage 350
Taxes 28
insurance 25
so to break even I need 403 dollars.
Add in the guy who cuts the yard and you get 500.
So I rent it at 550 and I break even and get to put some back for repairs.
Get one person whe won't pay and won't move and you lose money fast.
So I can see both sides of the coin, and they both suck.
Faker

[xterragirl]

Faker, I see your point. BUT, that's where a credit report comes in. You cannot refuse to rent to someone just because they are on disability. I believe you CAN, however, refuse because of their credit/payment history.

[Longshot! [ Saint ]]

Any business which motivates you to veer away towards a morally correct decision is a doomed venture.

Unless Mrs. PIO's point was the case, or your friend has not presented all the facts, the Renter is being what some in the law enforcement community refer to as a 'Cock'. I have what may be the most handy-unfriendly house in the Western Hemisphere, but I am in the process of upgrading it now to accomodate such; there are Grants for just this thing, so finances are little excuse.

A buck is a buck, but when your business is providing HOMES, discriminitory practices are on a different ethical plane that if you're selling, for random example, tanning lotions & protective eyeware.

The obvious solution is to simply give us the address of the place in question.


Immediately.

[Laura Rice]

>A buck is a buck, but when your business is providing HOMES, discriminitory practices are on a different ethical plane that if you're selling, for random example, tanning lotions & protective eyeware.

>The obvious solution is to simply give us the address of the place in question.


>Immediately.

Get 'em Shot!

[gridbug]

You cannot refuse to rent to someone just because they are on disability. I believe you CAN, however, refuse because of their credit/payment history.

But you can refuse to rent and give no reason. There is no obligation to rent to anyone.

It is TMI that will kill you in the end.

[spinsandbarks]

There many programs and grants available to help those with disabilities get into permanent housing, especially folks with mental handicaps because of discrimination.

openingdoors.org is a good place to start...it's a chatt housing website, and there should be a good deal of info about rights, etc.

your friend has enough to deal with without adding a landlord or mgmt. company that's already giving her the runaround.

Longshot, I didn't get what you meant by these statements -- >>Any business which motivates you to veer away towards a morally correct decision is a doomed venture.

Unless Mrs. PIO's point was the case, or your friend has not presented all the facts, the Renter is being what some in the law enforcement community refer to as a 'Cock'. I have what may be the most handy-unfriendly house in the Western Hemisphere, but I am in the process of upgrading it now to accomodate such; there are Grants for just this thing, so finances are little excuse.<<

[Felix]

Regarding housing information, spinsandbarks remarked:

openingdoors.org is a good place to
start...it's a chatt housing website

The website appears to be in a transition period, with many features not completed. Eventually a separate website for the domain chattanoogarents.com is supposed to supply this sort of information. There is no such website I can find right now, although the domain name is registered.

I no longer have much contact with the Chattanooga Housing Authority, the entity that is organizing all this, perhaps a call to 423.752.4893 would lead to better information.

[Longshot! [ Saint ]]

I meant that not renting to handicapped people is a strong indicator you shouldn't be in the business. And I also agree--if you do not wish to rent, do not give a reason. Explaining it to someone who is disabled would be almost as difficult as explaining it to yourself during those minutes at the end of the day just before you drift off to sleep.

I should probably exit the conversation, as my bias precludes objective discussion.

[TNBear]

My older brother was in a wheelchair for 24 years before he passed away in '04. It's all I can do to stop myself from vandalizing cars in hadicapped spots without permits, or that otherwise violate handicapped marked areas.
Yes, post the address.

He and his buddies would always refer to the non-handicapped as "TABs", temporarily able-bodied. Makes you think, eh?

[Deleted]

I find it ironic that so many cars with handicap stickers park in handicap spots that are clearly marked for VANS. I'd like to ticket those people too. You'd think that of all people, they would know best NOT to park there. Dorks.

[Jay]

True........just saw two of 'em yesterday at a walmart parking lot...