[CIVIL.REG.,082696,0800]
Housing Tests
(Iowa Civil Rights Commission; 08/26/96; 0800)
IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION CONDUCTS HOUSING TESTS IN 51 COMMUNITIES
Under the latest testing program funded by the U. S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD), the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) tested
landlords and real estate agents in 51 Iowa communities to determine the
nature and extent of housing discrimination in Iowa.
During the period, February 15, 1995 through April 30, 1996, the ICRC conducted
909 tests, found 136 possible violations of fair housing laws, and filed
41 commissioner complaints.
Under Iowa's anti discrimination
law, the "Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965," a landlord cannot refuse
to rent to persons because of race, sex, national origin, disability, religion,
or familial status (presence of persons under age 18 in the household).
Also under the Act, landlords cannot discourage persons from making application
or treat persons differently in the terms and conditions of rental because
of one of those "protected" personal characteristics.
The ICRC tested landlords and real estate agents in 51
medium-sized communities (population range: 5,000 - 25,000), to determine
whether tester-applicants would be refused rental or discouraged from making
application because of familial status, physical disability, or race.
The ICRC conducted 909 tests --
402 familial status, 262 disability, and 245 race. In 19% of the familial
status tests, 12% of the disability tests, and 13% of the race tests, the
ICRC found possible violations of fair housing laws.
In the familial status tests, possible violations included (1) outright
refusal to rent to families with children, (2) not allowing families with
children on second and third floors, (3) segregating families with children
in particular buildings, (4) advertising that families with children were
not welcome by stating in the ad "no children," "ideal for
singles," and "ideal for couples," (5) limiting occupancy
to less than two persons per averaged- sized bedroom, (6) charging a higher
deposit for families with children, and (7) charging a higher rent based
on the number of people in the unit but not based on higher utility costs
paid by the landlord.
In the disability tests, the ICRC tested to see if landlords would allow
tenants to make reasonable modifications of their rental units in order
to accommodate the tenants' physical disabilities. Under State and federal
fair housing laws, landlords must allow reasonable modifications at the
tenants' expense. Possible violations included (1) outright refusal to make
any accommodation and (2) discouraging statements like "I don't think
it can be done" and "You'll have to speak to the owner about that."
In the race tests, all the possible violations were based on different treatment;
white testers were treated differently than African American testers. Possible
violations included: (1) giving only the white tester an application, (2)
telling only the white tester that the complex had a vacancy, (3) telling
only the white tester that the complex offered a special, this month only,
rent-reduction bonus, (4) telling only the white tester about other available
units in other buildings also owned by the landlord, (5) allowing only the
white tester to view/inspect the unit, (6) quoting a higher rent cost to
the African American tester, (7) quoting a higher deposit cost to the African
American tester, (8) telling only the African American tester about a compulsory
carpet cleaning charge, (9) telling only the African American tester that
the advertised unit had been pulled from the market, and (10) telling only
the African American tester about extra charges for late rent and returned
checks.
The ICRC's purpose in testing is to educate and reform. Everyone tested
is contacted and informed about the test and the test results. Persons who
pass the tests are thanked for following the law and persons who do not
pass are either counseled regarding the law or served with a complaint,
depending on the seriousness of the violation.
The ICRC has recently published a
new, 16-page Fair Housing Guide which is free upon request. For a copy,
contact the ICRC's public education officer, Carol Leach, at 515-281- 8354
or 1-800-457-4416 ext. 1-8354.
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(Contact: Don Grove 515-281-8084)
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