Increase In Housing Discrimination Against Families With Children Attributed To Growing Use Of Internet To Advertise Rentals

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Grand Rapids Press reports:

• When a landlord told a young Grand Rapids mother interested in renting a duplex that she would have to pay twice the regular security deposit because she had three children, the woman was shocked. “I know I have kids, but I don’t have animals for children,” said the 24-year-old, whose children are 5, 2 and 2 months. “I don’t know what kind of damage they would do that would take two months’ security deposit.” The mother, who asked not to be identified, eventually learned the requirement was illegal: The Fair Housing Act bans discrimination on the basis of “familial status.”

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• Nationwide, familial status complaints rose from 3,500 in 2006 to 5,300 last year, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. The increase is attributed to the growing role of Internet advertising. Newspapers are held liable under the Fair Housing Act for their advertising content, but Web sites such as Craigslist.com or rentgr.com are held to a different standard: The burden is on the poster, not the site owner.

For mrore, see More renters claiming landlords are unlawfully discriminating against families.