What can be done when a landlord will not rent to a person on the
basis of the fact that the person is black

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 21 May 2004 08:35 PDT

Which country?

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 21 May 2004 10:16 PDT

If in the United States, which state, county, and town or city?

Look in your phone directory for the local EEOC office or for
attorneys that would specialize in discrimination lawsuits.  Also if
your city has a NAACP office or Department of Social Services office,
then someone there could give you contact phone numbers and addresses
of individuals and agencies that could assist you.

4KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher)

You could also try to contact your regional (city or county
government) housing office. You should be able to find their contact
information in the phone book.

It's a tough question, because it relies on fact. Trouble is, the
perception of the truth may have to be determined by a Judge and/or
Jury. It happened here in Aus. An Aboriginal lady enquired on a rental
vacancy. The lady was known to the agent. The property in question was
"unavailable or already rented out". The Aboriginal lady's female
friend(Caucasion (sp)) enquired on the same home. It was still
available.

Our law says that we can not discriminate against children nor
ethnicity. A landlord can however discriminate against groups or pets.
Fair enough, as the Landlord is the one taking the risk. All
prospective tenants must qualify minimum conditions. That is, income,
derivation, prior rental record. In commercial leases however,
business bank accounts are required to determine the suitability of a
tenant.

Landlord's discrimination is based on risk. If they can avoid certain
socio-economic groups, they will do so to minimise risk of loss. It
works both ways. Unfortunately, you have to prove your innocence as
tenant's rights are in favour with the government today, once you
actually acquire a property. As a tenant you need only give me 30 days
notice, even when a lease expires into a month by month arrangement.

Forget the courts, forget the fight, just move on. Who needs a reluctant landlord?

Regards.