Fair housing rights, few know of laws protecting renters, tenants

There are many factors to be considered when buying or renting a home; discrimination shouldn't be one of them. Fair Housing laws prohibit any discrimination when applicants are looking for a place to live.

"I was inquiring on an apartment I saw was available in the paper. When I asked about it, the owner told me it was a mistake, and I left," said Ashraf Al-Ruwaithi.

Al-Ruwaithi is an international student attending Weber State University studying mechanical engineering. He said this was the only time upon coming to the United States that he has felt discriminated against because of his nationality.

"Most students don't understand their rights," said Max Ryujin, certified expert witness for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity and realtor for Century 21.

Ryujin teaches classes showing how to identify discrimination, classes like the one he is teaching today in the Shepherd Union Building at 1 p.m., Room 340.

Ryujin advises students to shop around, know what they want and know their rights as buyers or tenants.

"Shop around, some things are too good to be true," Ryujin said.

Specific criteria apply to the Fair Housing Act, including the Reasonable Occupancy Law that sets restrictions on the number of occupants per bedroom.

It is also permissible in a neighborhood, where the majority is age 55 and older, to exclude applicants who have children under age 18.

"In order for there to be a housing complaint, the applicant must feel they are discriminated against because of race, color, sex, religious preference, nation of origin and/or disability," said Pauline Parsell, intake officer at the Utah Fair Housing Agency in Salt Lake City. "The landlords are the ones who face the most discriminatory complaints."

Parsell said the most common complaints are from renters being refused and/or evicted from their current situations. In these situations, legal action can be taken.

"These laws apply to anyone in the market of renting, owning or the sale of property," Parsell said.

Sometimes, the Fair Housing Act faces its own discrimination and defiance. There are several cases each year that are brought against further housing development plans and the rights of existing homeowners.

"Residents should have a right to express displeasure with group homes and low-income housing projects slated to be built in their neighborhood," said Dave McCammon, local whose housing development opposed the building of apartments nearby.

Other residents in the area believed the multi-level apartments would diminish the value of their own homes.

Bill Graham, homeless housing assistant manager for Your Community Connection, said students should look out for predatory lending, such as check cashing places that will cash post-dated checks, charging ten percent a week equaling 520 percent a year.

"Use credit as a need rather than a want," Graham said.

He said lenders target illegal aliens and people who don't thinks they can get credit at more reputable places.

"Get some education about lending, read the fine print and do some shopping," Graham said.

You can reach reporter Wendy Leonard by calling 626-7105.