Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
Discrimination and unfair living conditions
Hi, I am living as a tenant in a house belonging to an absentee landlord. The landlord does not live on the premises and collects the rent through one of the roommates.
This co-ordinating roommate is discrminating against me and making my living conditions difficult. He forces me to do things as per his rules like cleaning the house etc. He is threatening me with eviction on failure to obey his rules. The majority of the household members are with him. In view of this the land lord is likely to support my roommate and ask me to leave or obey his rules.
The rules are applied discriminately and I beleive I am being subjected to racial discrimination. I am an Asian East Indian while the other room mates are White Caucasian.
Can you advise me what protection I have under the Housing Law or any other laws? What are my legal options ? Thanks
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Discrimination and unfair living conditions
File suit for harassment and discrimination.
Re: Discrimination and unfair living conditions
Fair housing laws do protect you from racial discrimination. Do you have evidence to show that your race is the reason, or one of the reasons, why you are being required to follow the rules? Are the other roommates required to follow them?
Your claim may be against the landlord if the "co-ordinating roommate" is the agent of the landlord. But if that roommate is the prime tenant and the other roommmates are subtenants, you may only have a claim against the prime tenant and not the landlord.
You might want to try a rental dispute mediation before considering litigation. Project Sentinel can provide mediation service; and if that fails can help you pursue a discrimination claim.
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