roommate housemate rental ads, can you discriminate?

Question

I'm well aware of the fair housing act and in general I agree with it. No matter what we are, we all need a place to live. However, if you are advertising for a roommate or housesharing, can you discriminate. For example, if you're a single female, can you only request females apply? Or if your Jewish, must you lket a Muslim live with you? I don't see it as the same as simply being a landlord and having to abide by fair housing laws because you are actually going to have to live WITH this person.

So can you place an ad like this for say: A christian, or female, or single white female, etc, etc, etc.,

The Jewish Muslim thing was just an example. I happen to be neither and have no problem with either ethnicity. In fact, it might lighten-up the world a little if more Muslims and Jews did room up together. Just my opinion. I have no hangups there at all, trust me!

Answer 1

Yes you can. That is not discrimination.

Answer 2

In general, I don't think it's a good idea to be too discriminating in the ads -- you might miss out on some really good people. For example, the stars might be so aligned that all the Jews who come to you just so happen to be real dorks, and the Muslim who comes in might be open-minded and very cool. It's very much the luck of the draw.

You might encourage discrimination in the applicants, though, by describing yourself. For example: "White Christian female seeks room-mates for three-bedroom house." I think that would effectively discourage most aethists. You'd get mostly Christians and weirdos applying, and you should be able to sort out those over the phone.

Check with the newspaper you place your ad with. I'm sure every newspaper has a slightly different policy.

Answer 3

if you are a woman, just advertise as SINGLE WOMAN WANTED AS HOUSEMATE..... or SINGLE MALE WANTED AS HOUSEMANTE-----if YOU are skittish about religion then you CANNOT discriminate----but you don't have to say YES either----lets say you are Muslim and you don't WANT to live with a Jewish person----but one comes to see your place.... OK, you can be polite and take their name and number and tell them you have already interviewed several people and have a few more to go and you will make your decision in a day or two and IF they get picked you will call them.... That way, they shouldn't be calling YOU back to ask and you can pick whomever else you want... but PLEASE don't be so quick to judge someone just because their religion or COLOR differs from you---oh and you CANNOT say SINGLE WHITE FEMALE in your ad---you can say SINGLE FEMALE but once you use the word WHITE, you are stepping on civil liberties laws.... if you interview 5 or 6 people, you have the right to chose who you WANT from those people... or others if 5 or 6 don't find you a room mate...but ya know, you might learn a WHOLE lot if you opened up your mind a bit and allowed a Muslim woman move in with you or even a black or asian woman....it could be a step one SMALL step in learning how to get along with others unlike yourself....hey, you can keep YOUR beliefs, your room mate can keep HER beliefs IN YOUR OWN ROOMS but common areas of the house could and SHOULD remain neutral...you BOTH could learn a lot from each other however....

Answer 4

every state allows discreet discrimination when you are sharing living quarters...fair housing laws do not apply in your circumstance.

Answer 5

Yes you can state you preferences if you wish. There are no laws against it.