Press Release from: IOWA CIVIL
RIGHTS COMMISSION
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11-22-95
Contact Person: Don Grove, Executive
Director, 515-281- 8084
Iowa Civil Rights Commission Conducts Housing Tests in Waverly
On September 29 and
30, 1995, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) conducted 23 housing tests
in the City of Waverly, Iowa. The tests showed 5 possible violations of
state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
The ICRC has tested 27 communities under the current testing program. The
results so far indicate 94 possible violations out of 470 tests. In these
tests the ICRC evaluated whether race, presence of children, or disability
affected the availability of units, caused different treatment of applicants,
or was the reason some applicants were discouraged from applying. The testers
contacted landlords and realtors by phone and in person to inquire about
the availability of housing.
One test showed possible different treatment of the applicant because of
the presence of children. In this case the manager of an apartment building
asked the tester if she had children and what their ages were. When the
tester said she had a 4 and 5 year old, the property manager stated, "four
and five ... well I don't have any children in that apartment. I do have
some sleeping during the day in there. And I also, like I told you, have
a couple other names here."
Another area landlord told the testing coordinator he had a couple with
children call about his 3 bedroom duplex. The landlord stated, "a couple
called and wanted to look at it ... I kind of checked them out and they
had 4 or 5 kids ... and I turned them down. I don't think that's right,
but had I not turned them down the other renter would have moved."
Iowa Code § 216.8(1) prohibits a landlord from refusing to rent to
persons with children and Iowa Code § 216.8(3) prohibits a landlord
from discouraging persons with children from considering their property.
Landlords may set rental requirements to be met by all applicants, such
as rules prohibiting excessive noise, so long as these requirements do not
negatively impact families. Landlords should not assume a family with children
will be noisier or cause more damage to property than tenants without children.
Several tests showed possible different treatment because of the disability
of the tester. In one of these tests, the tester inquired about installing
a grab bar in the shower. The manager said, "I'm couldn't say for sure.
I'm not the landlord." Fair Housing Law allows tenants to make modifications
to their rental units, at their own expense, to accommodate their disability.
Owners have the responsibility to educate their property managers as to
the Fair Housing Laws.