Did I get discriminated if I’m a sex offender who was denied housing?
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Did I get discriminated if I’m a sex offender who was denied housing?
I applied and sent in an application to a landlord after viewing a house and meeting her with my wife and child.No where on the application stated a background check, nor did it state anything about sex offense or any offense or felony. Later the week after sending in my application, the landlord sends my wife an email saying she will not rent to us because of my background check? Like I said no where on the application said anything about background checks. So my wife said,
Asked on September 25, 2017 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
No, it is not illegal or discriminatory.
1) A landlord needs your permission to get certain information which you'd have to authorize, but may "Google" you or do searches of public databases without your knowledge or consent. Anything publically available may be searched or reviewed by anyone.
2) There is no law guarantying sex offenders a right to rent any given apartment or home, or preventing landlords from declining to rent to them.
So the landlord could find this information legally, and then could legally refuse to rent to you.
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