Sometimes Avoiding Housing
Discrimination Issues
is all About Communication
By Karen Thompson – Dispute
Resolution Program and Fair Housing Supervisor,
North County Lifeline
Every day there are conflicts
somewhere between tenants and landlords. A lot of these are real issues where
the interests of tenants and landlords are in conflict. But there are also many
times where the problem is simply in the communication.
Take this recent example of a
discrimination complaint: A local property manager was having trouble with
tenants riding bicycles through the property’s courtyard. The rule against bike
riding was completely reasonable and legal, especially since riding bicycles on
the property created a safety issue. The manager complained to the tenants and
posted a sign to make the rules clear.
But that’s where his good intentions went
wrong.
First he complained to the bike
riders by saying, “Hey – yeah, I mean you
kids. I’m sick of telling you that
you can’t ride your bikes in the courtyard.”
Then he posted a sign on the gate that read: “Children may not ride
bicycles in the courtyard.”
While it’s perfectly okay for the
property manager to create rules and post signs enforcing them, it’s the way
this manager communicated the rule that caused a problem. He made his rule
specific to “kids” and “children”. And, while there is nothing wrong with
limiting where tenants can ride their bicycles, it is not legal to make the
rule specific to children, or any other group of tenants – the rule must apply
equally to everyone.
This complaint
could have been prevented had the property manager simply posted a sign that
read: “Bicycle riding is prohibited in
the courtyard.” An understanding of tenant and
landlord rights under Fair Housing laws helps avoid these kinds of conflicts. Children
and other groups are protected from discrimination under Fair Housing rules.
North County Lifeline offers free training to landlords and property
managers to promote an understanding of Fair Housing rules and reduce
inadvertent cases of discrimination.
North County Lifeline’s collaborative received over 150 Fair Housing inquiries from October 1 to December 31, 2015
If you need help with a Fair
Housing claim, or would like to schedule free training, please contact North
County Lifeline’s Fair Housing Program toll-free at 866.954.3354 or email mochoa@nclifeline.org.
North County Lifeline’s Fair Housing Program is a free
service offered to landlords and tenants in San Diego County and funded by the
County of San Diego.
