How to best find a single mom + kid(s) tenants without publicly discriminating?

[Anonymous]

OP - What town is it in? Might know some people who would be interested and fit that criteria.

[Anonymous]

WHere are you and how much are you charging? I'm a single mom in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your area have a parents list serv (not anonymous like this)? I would start there. Our church also has a big list serv. I think it’s fine to say “I’m interested in offering this to another mom or single woman/female students”. You could also contact organizations that have interns, but then you are looking at needing to furnish it and having more in and out versus a longer lease. Hope it works out well for you!

Now why would you think that? Or say that if you have no idea?

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), it’s illegal to advertise housing in a way that expresses a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on sex, familial status, or other protected classes. Saying “another mom” or “single woman/female students” directly states a preference for women and excludes men, which is considered sex discrimination.

This is no different than saying “I’m interested in offering this to another white tenant or single asian students”.

FHA doesn't apply to owner occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units.

+1 It's weird how many people don't know this.

[Anonymous]

Following. 45 yo divorced dad, would like to find same.

[Anonymous]

We have a condo where we rent out the second bedroom. Our daughter lives in the other one. I absolutely advertise this as the tenant must be female. I've found people through Facebook mostly. There are roommate sites for particular areas. I also post on my personal and college alumni sites. We've ended up with fantastic tenants every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello DCUM!

I am a newly divorced mom and have a large garden unit apartment attached to my house (1550sqft, 2bd/1ba/2 huge living rooms/full bath/laundry/garage spot/large yard). I have two daughters who are with me half the time and the other half I am in this large house alone and would like to start monetizing the unit. However, I would ideally like it to be rented by another single mom with kids or 1-2 females. Is this possible to search for? I would be happy to take significanly under market rate for the unit for the right tenants.

How would you go about looking?

I'd be interested in something like this. I am a solo mom by choice with a daughter. What neighborhood are you in?

[Anonymous]

I think this is something you should network around to find. Ask if people you know know someone who would fit the bill. Like mention on your Facebook page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your area have a parents list serv (not anonymous like this)? I would start there. Our church also has a big list serv. I think it’s fine to say “I’m interested in offering this to another mom or single woman/female students”. You could also contact organizations that have interns, but then you are looking at needing to furnish it and having more in and out versus a longer lease. Hope it works out well for you!

Now why would you think that? Or say that if you have no idea?

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), it’s illegal to advertise housing in a way that expresses a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on sex, familial status, or other protected classes. Saying “another mom” or “single woman/female students” directly states a preference for women and excludes men, which is considered sex discrimination.

This is no different than saying “I’m interested in offering this to another white tenant or single asian students”.

If there’s any shared common area, OP is allowed to advertise a preference for one sex over the other. No different than a woman advertising for a female roommate, which has always been allowed.

[Anonymous]

If you are renting out part of your own home, you can rent to a specific gender only.

You can't discriminate against race.

If you were not living there, you can't have a gender preference. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your area have a parents list serv (not anonymous like this)? I would start there. Our church also has a big list serv. I think it’s fine to say “I’m interested in offering this to another mom or single woman/female students”. You could also contact organizations that have interns, but then you are looking at needing to furnish it and having more in and out versus a longer lease. Hope it works out well for you!

Now why would you think that? Or say that if you have no idea?

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), it’s illegal to advertise housing in a way that expresses a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on sex, familial status, or other protected classes. Saying “another mom” or “single woman/female students” directly states a preference for women and excludes men, which is considered sex discrimination.

This is no different than saying “I’m interested in offering this to another white tenant or single asian students”.

FHA doesn't apply to owner occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units.

+1

[Anonymous]

There's a group meant exactly for this. I forget what it's called but you can google it. It's for single moms to find each other and live together, in whatever level of overlap you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a group meant exactly for this. I forget what it's called but you can google it. It's for single moms to find each other and live together, in whatever level of overlap you want.

Not PP but I think that’s CoAbode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your area have a parents list serv (not anonymous like this)? I would start there. Our church also has a big list serv. I think it’s fine to say “I’m interested in offering this to another mom or single woman/female students”. You could also contact organizations that have interns, but then you are looking at needing to furnish it and having more in and out versus a longer lease. Hope it works out well for you!

Now why would you think that? Or say that if you have no idea?

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), it’s illegal to advertise housing in a way that expresses a preference, limitation, or discrimination based on sex, familial status, or other protected classes. Saying “another mom” or “single woman/female students” directly states a preference for women and excludes men, which is considered sex discrimination.

This is no different than saying “I’m interested in offering this to another white tenant or single asian students”.

FHA doesn't apply to owner occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units.

Exactly.. She is literally looking for a roommate, and you definitely can discriminate when it comes to sharing space with someone, there is no law obligating you to share your house with a male when you are a female living alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are renting out part of your own home, you can rent to a specific gender only.

You can't discriminate against race.

If you were not living there, you can't have a gender preference. Hope this helps.

But she is living there and sharing a house, it's like having a roommate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a group meant exactly for this. I forget what it's called but you can google it. It's for single moms to find each other and live together, in whatever level of overlap you want.

Not PP but I think that’s CoAbode.

Yes, that's it.