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.