Private owners in Fed Hill will not rent to African Americans (Baltimore: apartment, rentals)

[j236]

I have a question I am not originally from Baltimore. I am African American and have had a difficult time trying to find rentals in Fed Hill, Locust Point and Mount Vernon. Usually these listings or of those of private owners. Some of this listings I have found on craigslist. I will send an email tell the landlord a little about myself and hear NOTHING back!!! To test my theory of racism(because I did not want to jump to conclusions) I will have a white friend or someone with an English name contact the same landlord and get a response back immediately? Is there some secret code I do not know about. Why are private owners in particulary Fed Hill relunctant to rent to African Americans and I have spoken to other African Americans who say they have experienced the same problem and that I would fare better in Charles Village or Bolton Hill? Fed. Hill is convenient as far as work goes and to the Inner harbor which is where I would like to reside. Can these people be reported to HUD? How can I go about proving housing discrimination from private owners. I would appreciate any advice thanks

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by j236

How can I go about proving housing discrimination from private owners. I would appreciate any advice thanks

I guess I would contact the city's civil rights office about how to proceed. It certainly sounds like discrimination, but there may be some exemptions for owners of fewer than 5 units.

[GoPhils]

Why do you need to tell them about yourself? Just say you'd like to see the apartment.

[MobileVisitor09]

Agree with GoPhils, and, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. While I'm not sure how much of an argument you could wage based upon specific individuals not responding to an e-mail (versus for instance landlords showing you an apartment and then intentionally renting to someone else of a different race, etc.), if it becomes a recurrent problem you'd like to pursue, I'd maybe suggest contacting Fair Housing... Welcome to Baltimore Housing

[davecj]

African as in actually from Africa or here? The issue is probably not so much your race but that they prefer not to rent to foreigners as they wouldn't be able to do a credit or background check without a SS number. It also doesn't help that any ad gets inundated with scam replies from nigerians among others.

[kharing]

Are you serious about looking for a rental, or are you just trying to find out if there are racist landlords in Baltimore? I personally wouldn't choose to live in Federal Hill simply because parking is a nightmare and it's too loud on the weekends.

There are landlords with biases out there - it's a fact, but why would you want to line their pockets with your hard earned money if they are indeed racist?

I wish you luck - and would recommend checking out Charles Village!

[Henry Bowman]

Private property rights are a *****.

Why shouldn't the owners of a property be able to rent whomever they want, whenever they want?

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by j236

How can I go about proving housing discrimination from private owners. I would appreciate any advice thanks

Unless you have absolute proof, it is going to be really hard. Just because a landlord does not respond to your emails after you describe a little about yourself or rents to a white person after they show they apartment only proves these landlords did not respond to your email and rented the place to someone else. Nothing else.

Originally Posted by Henry Bowman

Private property rights are a *****.

Why shouldn't the owners of a property be able to rent whomever they want, whenever they want?

The reality is, you can. And every landlord does it whether they are bigots or not.

Originally Posted by GoPhils

Why do you need to tell them about yourself? Just say you'd like to see the apartment.

I have responded to a few ads on C-list and been asked to mention a little bit about myself. A handful did not respond after I sent my "about me" emails. And I never mentioned my ethnicity, race, or socioeconomic situation.

[ssshhhooo]

Originally Posted by Henry Bowman

Private property rights are a *****.

Why shouldn't the owners of a property be able to rent whomever they want, whenever they want?

Refusing to rent to someone based on their race, religion, gender, or national origin is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

I would encourage the OP to contact Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.

Welcome to BNI

[Luke9686]

I ignore all emails from people from Africa. That dang Nigerian prince got me twice!