Landlord hesitating because I have an infant?
These are newly renovated 3 bedroom apartments. The 2 new roommates have NO problem with me having a baby and I am capable of paying the security deposit and rent. We met with the landlord today and he says he doesn’t think I can live there b/c the place is not "childproof" and that they need to do asbestos testing and things like that and that doing those things cost money. From my understanding, you are supposed to do those tests anyway. I think he is being discriminatory but is making up excuses. Whats your take on this? Can I take this to a lawyer? He said he will need to ask his partner but thinks his partner will say no and told one of my other roommates personally that he doesn’t think I can stay there.
my daughter is 4 months
it is a violation of Federal Housing Law to discriminate against a renter due to familial status.
If you are dsicriminatee against by these LL’s, you shoudl file a complaint with either your state or local Housing Agencies or HUD.
It maybe that the LL are renting an illegal apartment. They may not have enoug square feet for 3 poeple and a child (then they can say "no") or they may not even have enough sq feet for 2 or there maybe local restructions of more than two unrelated people sharing that proeprty (all of those restrictions are local not federal, and may not even exist in your location)
http://www.fairhousing.com/index.cfm?method=page.display&pagename=releases_kfhc03-11-03
Insist that he rent to you, if he refuses make him put his denial in writng and state why. He proably won’t but try to have witnesses. This IS a big deal; in 2008 housing complainst based on familial status were higher than ever.