Okay to Discriminate Against Donald Trump Supporters
| . Posted in laws, News - 6 Comments
A landlord in Grand Junction Colorado has refused to rent to a tenant who supports Donald Trump for president, and HUD has weighed in: that’s all right.
Under Fair Housing laws, landlords may not refuse to rent to someone on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, family status, or disability. This implies there’s free rein to question tenants about their political affiliation.
Just what America needs! More partisanship!
Let’s just do a Massachusetts sanity check: You are further restricted from discriminating against someone for their sexual orientation, marital status, age, ancestry, genetic information, veteran status, membership in the armed forces, or receiving public assistance. Nothing about political preferences!
But here’s a very serious word of caution, especially for the larger landlords with a target painted on their back: pollsters make it their business to identify party affiliation with protected classes. Your policy of discrimination on the basis of party affiliation may come with a prepackaged disparate impact lawsuit.
Unless you really know your local demographics, and really feel strongly that politics is worth refusing an otherwise qualified applicant, we advise against such a policy.
Also, keep in mind, HUD wasn’t asked to weigh in on discrimination against Bernie. They were asked about Trump. HUD themselves might be discriminating, and might find a reason why you must rent to Bernie supporters. Who knows! (FYI, MassLandlords isn’t taking a position on candidates. We’re just talking about possibilities. The same applies to Hillary and Cruz etc.)
If you do discriminate against someone on the basis of their political party, make sure you have a paper trail. There are a lot of protected classes in Massachusetts. Your Trump or Bernie supporter might just fall into one of them.
There seems to be no end to how low people can go against Trkup It is none of the landlords business who a tenant votes for. Makybe there should be an amendment to the civil rights act that you cant discriminate against someone based on politcal affiliations
because trump supporters are either stupid or crazy.
Even more discrimination. Great Job!!
Trump is an illegal dictator who tried to OVERTHROW the United States…no person who supports him will STEP FOOT in my house…let alone rent my room.
I absolutely feel the same. I will never rent any of my 4 homes to a bleeding heart liberal. I will never rent to another family long term as long as the democrats have a majority in either chamber or the presidency. As soon as they instituted the eviction moratoriums they showed that they are not for land owners
People feel strongly about this and I think a landlord has the right to rent to people they feel they can work well with. Neither party will be happy if they are forced to deal with someone who has totally opposing values. I think the benefits the renter and the landlord.