I was reading someone’s post on here about looking for an apartment and not having a job. I’ve got a similar issue that I need to ask about. So here it is:
I am handicapped and need to move asap due to QOL issues with my building {the QOL issues being a strict guest policy, a resident services coordinator who is totally clueless, water that only stays warm for ten minutes, bed bugs, and an infestation of fruit flies}. My dr recently wrote a letter asking our landlord to make me exempt from the guest policy due to my being physically handicapped and not being able to walk very far and the landlord flat out refused. Normally I go through a public housing search, But I can’t wait another year. The thing is I have never had a job and I think that my credit might be horrible because my sister used to handle all my financials and there was a period when my bills didn’t get paid. Any ideas???
Checking your credit is easy. Sign up for creditkarma.com. It’s free (they make money by allowing vendors to offer you financial products tailored to your situation while you’re on the site) and you get two of your credit scores.
Generally, creditworthiness won’t be an issue for housing rental if your rent was paid on time in the past. I’m not sure what you mean by a “public housing search” but if you didn’t pay rent yourself you might have problems.
Failure to make reasonable accommodations for handicapped individuals is a violation of Federal fair-housing laws, so management/landlords can’t include someone a doctor has deemed an assistant to you under their “Guest Policy”; it’s similar to why assistant/companion animals are exempted from any “Pet Policy”.
Which is it? Do you WANT to stay there, but they won’t let you…or you want out, due to habitability issues (bed bugs, fruit flies, lack of hot water, etc.)? You can’t have it both ways.
If you want out due to habitability issues, the Red Cross and your local Housing Authority should be able to help you. If you want to stay, your local Fair Housing/HUD authority can help you.
Best of luck to you.
As a renter for the past 10+ years, I can say they definitely do run your credit in order to accept your application, plus make you submit employment verification (recent pay stubs, sometimes forms signed by employer). It SUCKS. There may be places where the rent is cheaper if you make below a certain amount, but again, credit and verification is required. The wait for public (“section 8”) housing can sometimes be years long.
Maybe look into suing your current landlord for not keeping the premises in livable condition? Is the guest thing in your lease? If not, sue. Call local legal assistance or tenant advocates.
I think it’s clear she wants to live there without insect infestation and an unreasonable guest policy that doesn’t allow for her special circumstances.
Or, just violate the lease and wait for the landlord to start eviction proceedings. At the first hearing, cite the relevant laws governing accommodations for the disabled and get the eviction thrown out.
Not necessarily. Laws vary from state-to-state and precedents depend on the local Circuit Court district.
Just as in many jurisdictions landlords are not allowed to do “retaliatory evictions”, it often does not work well for renters who suddenly find things wrong with their dwellings after being notified of a breach of the contract.
Federal law prohibits landlords denying “reasonable accommodations”; if there truly IS a doctor’s note indicating the need for additional assistance (and the guest truly provides that assistance) it can not be treated the same as “I’ve let my homeless boyfriend of 3 weeks move-in so we can have loud raucous sex all day and night and you can’t do anything about it, because he’s my ‘companion’ and I have an ailment.”
We only have the limited version of the facts, as told by the OP; I’m covering BOTH sides’ [possible] positions.
Hey guys!!