screening roommates by health etc

[Wink Tobasco]

Keep in mind I'm talking about roommates here, someone I have to live with, not a someone renting an apartment from me. I have less stringent criteria in other situations, like employment, and business transactions, but this would be someone living with me. It's almost like choosing whom you date. You are allowed to have preferences on who you date, so why not who you live with.

I don't date smokers, obese people, and those outside my race.(remember you don't know what my race is) But I do have friends and business dealings with such people. I'm not against them at all, I just choose live with people that are more compatible with me.

 

I expect no trouble about my non-smoker requirement. I maintain myself in good shape. My furniture is cheap, light duty you might say. An obese roommate would be tough on furniture in the common areas of the house. Thats not a joke, a large friend broke my chair once. Plus, I just plain find such people off putting. I hold their dining habits in disdain (as is the case with smoking). I'd be regularly subject to their alien unhealthy ways. Reiterate that this isn't a rental apartment, this is living with me.

 

A roommate with children would also be rough on my place (again this MY place, not a rental apartment) and trying on the peace & tranquility here.

 

Race, keep in mind you don't know what my race is. I don't discriminate by race in employment, or any other way. I have friends from other races. However (as is the case with dating) I am most comfortable with people most like me. I wouldn't date outside my race and wouldn't want to live with someone outside my race.

 

I'm straight, I wouldn't much care about a person's orientation in any other setting, but this is my home.

Summary: I'd want those living with me to be a close match to me in most ways: temperament, smoking status, health habits, race, orientation. other than living with me, they are quite free to be and thrive. They can be (and some are) my friends .

 

Am I not entitled to screen whom lives with me? Are there any laws I might run afoul of?

 

　

[Els]

Depends where you live.

 

Racial preferences could get you sued in some places if you state them straight-out.

Also, I'm quite curious how you mention they're not renting from you. So are you a landlord who will be living with them, or are you just another tenant? If it's the latter, you won't usually get to choose your roommates.

 

From my experience in begetting roommates, you're only going to be setting yourself up for a lot more inconvenience than necessary with such stringent requirements though.

[Wink Tobasco]

I own my single family home, I was trying to point out that I wasn't some sort of landlord of a multi family home. There are laws regarding such situations, those laws shouldn't apply to my situation.

 

I have room to spare and an extra income wouldn't hurt. But I'd want the person to be as compatable as possible. I could simply keep my criteria to myself and reject - accept as I see fit. But I'd rather publish my wishes so as not to waste anyone's time.

[kalyn]

Every state is a little different. I am in the same situation, I own a home and have rented a room to roommates for the last 4 years. As a homeowner who ALSO lives there, you usually have more rights on who you can choose. For example, I am allowed to choose a roommate on various statues including their gender and their religious affiliation.

 

The exact rules depend on your state and how much use of the house you will both share.

 

[top]

Federal Fair Housing laws for roommates and shared housing have two components: advertising and decision-making.

 

Advertising: Federal Fair Housing laws prohibit discriminatory advertising in all housing, regardless of how large or small the property. However, as discussed below, advertising which expresses a preference based upon sex is allowed in shared living situations where tenants will share a bathroom, kitchen, or other common area.

Decision-making: Although the prohibition on discriminatory advertising applies to roommate and shared housing situations, federal Fair Housing laws do not cover the basis of decisions made by landowners who own less than four units, and live in one of the units. This means that in a situation in which a landlord owns less than four rental units, and lives in one of the units, it is legal for the owner to discriminate in the selection process based on the aforementioned categories, but it is illegal for that owner to advertise or otherwise make a statement expressing that discriminatory preference.

 

So basically you can select who you want but usually you can't advertise for anything other than gender or you can get sued. I suggest you look up Fair Housing Laws for your state.

[SmileFace]

It is pretty simple . You can not advertise it. You can't have an advertisement in the paper stating :

 

"Only rent to my kind (Add the rest of your laundry list here)."

 

But it is your place so if you want to go the screening to see if these people meet your criteria , so be it. Just watch your behind and don't mention it to the person you end up renting to and definitely not the person you turn down.

 

"Mr. John I don't see you as a qualified tenant, you exceed the weight limit,sorry."

 

Not acceptable ,you would find yourself with a huge law suit.

 

For what it's worth-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->"Federal laws prevent landlords from discriminating on the grounds of race, religion, sex, ethnic background, and disability. Some state and local laws go further, prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of marital status, sexual orientation, presence of children, and age."

[Gold Pile]

I can just imagine the flak you'd get for publishing a perference for healthy vs fat people. (I get flak from them here). If you're a racial minority you could probably be open about living with your own race, but if you're in the majority you'd better keep it unmentioned.

 

I lived with a hispanic woman for a month, it was enjoyable.

I've mentioned my willingness to live with an Asian Woman. My criteria isn't as strict as yours, but I support your right to live only with someone that meets yours.