[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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