Housing Rights for Families
Because families with children
are often the victims of discrimination, Housing Rights, Inc. has put
together this page to inform families of their rights.
Fair housing laws were created
to protect sections of the population that have historically been subject
to discrimination. These laws make it illegal to discriminate against
renters and homebuyers based on criteria such as their race, color, religion,
national origin, disability, etc. One such protected category is Familial
Status. This means that families with children are protected from discrimination
under fair housing laws. The law also covers people waiting to adopt,
to give birth or to be reunited.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Can a landlord limit the number of people living in the residence?
The landlord may follow ‘reasonable occupancy limitations’.
In California, the limit is two persons per bedroom, plus one.
Do the Fair Housing Laws apply to all housing?
The federal fair housing protections for
families with children apply to all housing except a home in which the
landlord lives and rents out only one room, and senior citizen housing.
What
Does Familial Status Discrimination Look Like?
Refusing to rent or sell to families with children.
Giving families with children different terms or conditions than other
residents.
Charging higher security deposits or rent to families with children.
Employing restrictive rules concerning children.
Requiring families with children to live on certain floors or in certain
buildings.
Advertising that dissuades families with children from applying.
Did
you know...
Before renters with children became a protected group under fair housing
laws, studies had shown that 25% of all rental units excluded families
with children and that 50% of all units had policies that treated families
with children different from other tenants. Many tenants with children
were unable to live in the housing of their choice. In 1988, both the
federal government and California amended their existing fair housing
laws to extend protection to residents according to their family status.
More
Resources:
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
1-800-233-3212 or www.dfeh.ca.gov.
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
1-800-669-9777 or www.hud.gov.
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