Uncomfortable with Rental Tenant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know many gay men, but I would think they're great tenants. Well-dressed, great decorators, clean, and puppy lovers! I wish I have a basement apartment to rent to them.

Curious why everyone freaks out when OP complains about them shagging, but this sort of stereotyping is accepted without a blink?

I agree that the stereotyping is not cool (even when it's supposedly positive), but I didn't see stereotyping about the tenants having sex. It was more that the mere thought of two men having sex that the OP was upset about.

[Anonymous]

The reason could be they're of another race -- it doesn't matter. Not for an individual landlord. Not justifying this, mind you, but don't claim to be a lawyer when you clearly don't know the law.

There is no situation that allows for housing discrimination based on race. None. Will cite later when not on my phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP this is really hitting me with a visceral anger that you are probably going to discriminate against this couple and get away with it. I'm a lawyer and I wish I knew this couple. I'd take the case pro bono and keep you so hog tied with a lawsuit that eventually you'd lose your house.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP this is really hitting me with a visceral anger that you are probably going to discriminate against this couple and get away with it. I'm a lawyer and I wish I knew this couple. I'd take the case pro bono and keep you so hog tied with a lawsuit that eventually you'd lose your house.

If you are a lawyer you'd no you'd have no case. Individual landlords cannot be compelled to rent to tenants they don't want to rent to. The reason could be they're of another race -- it doesn't matter. Not for an individual landlord. Not justifying this, mind you, but don't claim to be a lawyer when you clearly don't know the law.

So what? Even if that's true, the PP didn't mention winning - just tying up the OP for a long time, costing her a ton of money, and publicizing her bigotry to all her friends and neighbors to see. Easy enough to do that (in the right jurisdiction, of course - VA would be a little more difficult). I doubt her next door neighbors are going to be too pleased when subpoenaed to testify at a deposition regarding whether OP has made comments regarding gay people before. Also, still waiting for that citation to the law that provides individual landlords are held to different standards for discrimination purposes.

[Anonymous]

Op, I think you are a bigot and the post is fake, but I"ll play your game. Which state and county are you in and I"ll give you an actual statute that prohibits it if one exists for your jurisdiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't you just do some soundproofing? I wouldn't want to hear anyone else getting it on in my house, gay or straight.

Exactly, totally gross either way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most telling part of your ENTIRE post was the end "(and I have a couple of kids)"

That - alone - that means you are bigoted. Work on that.

Hmm, sounds like perhaps OP doesn't want to go through the toil of explaining homosexuality to her kids just yet by having such a couple renting their basement. Depending on the kids ages, there could be a lot of questions besides they're just affectionate roommates....

[Anonymous]

I understand that gays are not a 'protected class" in this situation. My opinion is that where the rental is in the owner's house, the homeowner should have more latitude in excluding tenants where the owner is uncomfortable with their lifestyle -- skinheads, neonazis, even gays.

[Anonymous]

Troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know many gay men, but I would think they're great tenants. Well-dressed, great decorators, clean, and puppy lovers! I wish I have a basement apartment to rent to them.

Funny you would say that. I'm renting my place next year and gay couples were said to be the best tenants. And this coming from an experienced landlord who was Muslim. He got over his homophobia rather quickly after they remodeled the kitchen in his NE townhouse and some other improvements.

Seriously, OP, its always sad to see that people like you are still around.

[Anonymous]

PP here. I should add that this is bad karma OP. One of your kids could turn out to be gay later and be discriminated against in the same manner.

Your kids live in a COMPLETELY different world than you. This is no different than want interracial couples were dealing with years ago (and likely still are by a small few). They will be exposed to homosexuals at some point, if not already. How would you feel if they found out as adults that you discriminated against someone in this manner?

[Anonymous]

I think soundproofing can be an issue in a lot of living situations. I have lived in many apartments and townhouses in which I heard my neighbors doing stuff. (I'm pretty quiet in bed, probably for that reason.)

I wouldn't have a problem renting to a gay couple, because I don't think there's anything wrong with being gay. My brother-in-law is gay, so I'm comfortable with my daughter spending time with gays. If you do tell them no (which you should - they deserve a landlord who is ok with their orientation), just tell them "Hey, sorry, turns out that a friend is going to be renting from us - we decided to go with someone we know personally."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that gays are not a 'protected class" in this situation. My opinion is that where the rental is in the owner's house, the homeowner should have more latitude in excluding tenants where the owner is uncomfortable with their lifestyle -- skinheads, neonazis, even gays.

You are in fact morally wrong, but legally right. According to the HUD site on Fair Housing at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/FHLaws/yourrights:

What Housing Is Covered?

The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

What Is Prohibited?

In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap:

Refuse to rent or sell housing
Refuse to negotiate for housing
Make housing unavailable
Deny a dwelling
Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
Provide different housing services or facilities
Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

Even if the landlord in an owner-occupied residence was included, sexual orientation is not a covered or protected class. However, if they are a married couple, they might be covered under "familial status." That is providing that your local jurisdiction exempts owners with very few rental units.

[Anonymous]

The Fair Housing Act is federal law. State or local law also may apply, so it's impossible to say whether this kind of discrimination is illegal without knowing where the property is located.

Ironic, isn't it - I'd bet there is a fair amount of overlap between those who think it's OK to discriminate against gay people, and the wingnuts who are the most ardent supporters of state's rights. Curious that at least one PP who is certain that being gay isn't a "protected class" somehow neglected to consider those all-important states.

[Anonymous]

Don't rent to whover you don't want to. Period.

I'd rather not be rented to than unknowingly move in and have a landlord watching my every move for some bs reason to try to illegally evict me.