Over on the ApartmentAssoc Yahoo Group an owner asks:
I’m wondering if we would be discriminating to look for one person rather than two, whether a couple or whatever…because we are both over 55 and can’t take the noise we’ve taken through the years…even between couples yelling at each other. Do we have to declare the house 55 and older and find someone over 55 for the lower? I thought I read a post that said if you are living in the other unit in the house you can…?
Seems like Fair Housing question month.
Is this your personal residents? There is an exemption to the Federal Fair Housing law for owner occupied 1-4 family properties. It is called the Mrs. Murphy exemption. The exemption does NOT apply in Wisconsin however.
106.50 Open housing.
(1) Intent. It is the intent of this section to render unlawful discrimination in housing. It is the declared policy of this state that all persons shall have an equal opportunity for housing regardless of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry and it is the duty of the political subdivisions to assist in the orderly prevention or removal of all discrimination in housing through the powers granted under ss.66.0125 and 66.1011. The legislature hereby extends the state law governing equal housing opportunities to cover single-family residences that are owner-occupied. The legislature finds that the sale and rental of single-family residences constitute a significant portion of the housing business in this state and should be regulated. This section shall be considered an exercise of the police powers of the state for the protection of the welfare, health, peace, dignity, and human rights of the people of this state.
If you do not live in WI here is a good reference to state laws on the “Mrs. Murphy” exemption:
Even under the Federal “Mrs.Murphy” exclusion you are not permitted to advertise an otherwise discriminatory preference, so if you do not qualify under the housing for older persons exemption you could not, lets say, advertise ‘adults only’ or ‘one person only’. If you do qualify you can advertise 55 and older.
I could not advise you on the housing for older persons question as it is not a issue that I deal with.
My assumption is if one unit is vacant you do not meet the standard, but I may be wrong. I would ask the Division of Equal Rights directly:
https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwdsendmail/mailtodwd.aspx
Sub (5m)(g) may offer some relief:
(g) A person may not be held personally liable for monetary damages for a violation of sub. (2), (2m) or (2r) if the person reasonably relied, in good faith, on the application of the exemption under this subsection relating to housing for older persons. For purposes of this paragraph, a person may show reasonable reliance, in good faith, on the application of the exemption under this subsection relating to housing for older persons only if the person shows all of the following:
1. That he or she has no actual knowledge that the housing is not or will not be eligible for the exemption.
2. That the owner of the housing has stated formally, in writing, that the housing complies with the requirements for the exemption.
