Press Release from: IOWA CIVIL
RIGHTS COMMISSION
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4-19-95
Contact Person: Don Grove, Executive
Director, 515-281- 8084
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Conducts Housing Tests in Altoona
On April 12 and 14, 1995 the Iowa Civil Rights Commission conducted 15 housing
tests in Altoona, Iowa. Testers looked for discrimination based on race,
family status and disability. Two tests showed possible violations of state
and federal anti-discrimination laws.
In the first test, the tester asked the manger if she could install grab
bars in the bathroom at her own expense. The manager was not sure and said
she would have to check with her boss. Fair Housing Law allows tenants to
make modifications to their rental units to accommodate their disability.
These modifications are done at the tenant's expense. Property owners have
the responsibility to educate their property managers and representatives
as to the Fair Housing Laws.
In the second test, the managers of the apartment complex informed our testers
that 1 bedroom apartments were for 1 person only. The managers stated that
this was the policy for all 1 bedrooms in the complex. The Court in U.S.
v. Badgett, 976 F.2d 1176 (8th Cir. 1992) found that a policy of 1 person
per 1 bedroom apartment violated sections 3604(a)-(d) of the Fair Housing
Act. The Court found that the policy of refusing to rent 1 bedroom apartments
to more than one person had a disparate impact on families.
Iowa Code § 216.8(l) prohibits an owner, or person acting for an owner,
of rental property from refusing to rent any real property to a person because
of the familial status of that person. A policy of renting 1 bedroom apartments
to 1 person only may violate Iowa Code § 216.8(l).
The Commission's current testing program is funded by a Fair Housing Initiatives
Program grant awarded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development.