Is this a civil rights violation? discrimination? or both?

[rlarios5]

The owner of the property from which I rent is trying to restrict visitors for a select group of tenants, I being one of them. As for my situation I may have 3 people over to watch a movie or just hang out on the weekend. The same situation goes for most other tenants. Yet a group of us feel discriminated against by the owner. He has stated to us during our visits from friends that "if they donot live here the must go." I have myself lived with a landlord and never did we dictate who could or couldn't have friends over.

Just today a freind of a tenant was waiting for him in the sitting area of this tenants appartment. The police without a warrant came in and questioned his friend. Needless to say the situation is escalating.

I feel that we are being targeted and discriminated against? I also feel like my rights to privacy in my home are being violated. Am I correct in presuming this?

Please help.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

A landlord can limit the number of guests or the length of stay for each guest. The main concerns are that 1. too many folks gathering means too much noise and 2. a guest becomes a permanent resident without paying rent. One does not have a "civil right" to have guests over to a rental and since your posting indicates nothing about excluding from the group a specific race, age, etc. there is no argument for discrimination.

Gail

 

[CdwJava]

If the tenants do not like the rules, they are free to leave when their lease is up. Or, if the guests issue is not mention in the rules, CC&Rs, or the lease, they can always ignore the landlord and force the issue to court.

Keep in mind that most discriminatory behavior is perfectly lawful. If I choose a red car over a blue car, I have exercised discrimination in my tastes, but have not do so illegally. The can be said with people. The landlord could decide that tenants A and B have younger more noisy guests so the landlord limits their guests, while the quieter tenant C has never been a problem. Unless a violation of the lease agreement, this sort of discrimination is also likely legal.

If you do not like the rules, move. I don't know why you would wish to remain living in a place where you are not happy anyway. Since you likely do not have the funds to hire an attorney to take the matter to court, it seems the more prudent path to adhere to the rules until your lease is up.

- Carl

 

[rlarios5]

The group of tenants are young Mexican-Americans. Age is the main issue, we are all in our mid 20's to say 30 being the oldest(me). We are pecived in a negative way. I dont know why. Maybe past problem tenants who fit the demographic? With work, school, and meditation I barely have time for movie night with my gals. The noise factor has not even been brought up. Its the "frequency" of the visits that are being halted.

Here is another thing we all have in common, we are all paying the least amount of rent because we have been living here for at least 5 or more years. I moved in at 21. I live in Los Angeles, rent is beyond the sky here. So to have a 2 bedroom for $750/mo. Im looking at $1500-$1800 elsewhere. I really cant take on another job, and I would have to if I were to move.

As far as my finances go, Carl... There is money in the bank, enough to hire someone and still take a sweet vacation afterwards. But as a smart consumer during these economic times, just handing over $5000 to get a lawyer on retainer to answer a question, seems a bit irrational to me. Dont ya think? So my consumer savvy ways said look it up online, see if you even have a case first before you do anything. Otherwise, I would just be burning my hard earned over a long long long time money. :no:

 

[CdwJava]

Are their rules in the lease? CC&R's that govern guests? is this a room in someone else's home?

Unless you can prove that the sole reason for the limitation is due to ethnicity, this is something you may just have to settle between you and the landlord. You can always thumb your nose at the landlord and force him to try and evict you. Then he/she would have to show the reason ... but, if there is no lease or rental agreement, then you may be in a bad place.

- Carl