Discrimination Through Airbnb.com...

[Straight Success]

I thought as part of the Fair Housing Act, when a person rents in America they have the right to not be discriminated against because of their sex.

I understand women that live alone would have a concern for renting to strange men, but I see so many listings where a woman states that she will not rent to a man because she lives alone. I understand the point, but isn't that still discrimination?

Please inform me if I'm wrong. Maybe I need to do some additional reading regarding this.

[wed3k]

i think it is just personal preference.

[af_1132]

They have a disclaimer on Craigslist stating the Fair Housing Act when you look in the "for rent" section, yet I have still seen "looking for an independent/working/professional female...". It makes it a little difficult as a single man, which I was until this summer.

Wait, have you not found a place yet?

[cp[mike]]

depends where/what state you live in, but it comes down to exceptions in certain situations. like if it is a single-family dwelling with shared living areas and an existing tenant, then they might be allowed to specify their preference legally.

[Straight Success]

They have a disclaimer on Craigslist stating the Fair Housing Act when you look in the "for rent" section, yet I have still seen "looking for an independent/working/professional female...". It makes it a little difficult as a single man, which I was until this summer.

Wait, have you not found a place yet?

I had found three, but since I'm jobless at the moment, I have to wait to show income. So for now, I'm staying at hotels and renting rooms for a week at a time.

[deevergote]

It is discrimination, but I don't think there's a court in this country that would rule against a woman who refused to rent to a man due to safety concerns.

Honestly, if I were placing an ad on airbnb and I lived alone, I would probably specify male applicants only. I have no fear of being raped, as a woman would... but there's a very real danger of a woman claiming I made an unwanted advance, and it would be my word against hers (and in a situation like that, my word would likely be the weaker of the two.) Not a risk I would want to take.

[lbus9168]

It's not discrimination if it's against men

[owequitit]

It's no different than being white and being told you don't qualify or can't apply for something because you are white...

[deevergote]

True... but it is a very valid, very real concern for a single woman to open her door to a strange man to spend the night. It all says well and good to cry discrimination in the name of fair treatment, but it's far more fair than a 5'1 woman getting raped by a 6'4 man she was legally forbidden to turn away. Now, that may be a 1 in 1000 chance... but is it a chance a woman should be required to take in the name of fairness?

An airbnb tenant is like a hotel guest, not a lease-holding renter. No background checks, no pre-rental interviews, no references... Anyone can ask to rent a space.

[owequitit]

True... but it is a very valid, very real concern for a single woman to open her door to a strange man to spend the night. It all says well and good to cry discrimination in the name of fair treatment, but it's far more fair than a 5'1 woman getting raped by a 6'4 man she was legally forbidden to turn away. Now, that may be a 1 in 1000 chance... but is it a chance a woman should be required to take in the name of fairness?

An airbnb tenant is like a hotel guest, not a lease-holding renter. No background checks, no pre-rental interviews, no references... Anyone can ask to rent a space.

Oh, I agree totally. And it is a private, non-commercial residence, so she has every single right in the universe to determine who is allowed or not allowed, regardless of what that person thinks. That would be like saying "sorry, you have to have sex with me because otherwise you are sexist."

I was just pointing out that nobody has problems with "discrimination" when it benefits them and others are excluded from the process.

[Straight Success]

Another double standard at it's best.

[Ralphie]

I don't think it is a double standard.

No one would give any fucks if you put up an add and stated that your preference was male.

If you OWN the property, then you can specify who you want to live there.

It's not the same as Marriott only renting hotel rooms to women.

[owequitit]

Another double standard at it's best.

You're telling me. They suck don't they? Of course, you wouldn't want someone telling you that you had to let someone into your house, so the only fair thing is to give everyone else the same courtesy.

[wed3k]

if anything, wouldn't you be afraid of waking up in the middle of the night in a 55 gallon barrel?

[Straight Success]

The solution is simple then... just don't rent space through the service offered by Airbnb if you are not willing to abide by the law. I understand there is a cause for concern regarding safety, but the law is the law, right?





Also, I think this could win in the court of law simple because it's clearly stated in the FHA. I'm not going to pursue a lawsuit, I'm just saying.