Do Discrimination Laws Apply to Rent-A-Room?

claire2003

If someone is renting out a room under the "rent-a-room" scheme, do any of the discrimination law apply?

If I interview (for example) 5 people, and then select one; one of the rejected "applicants" won't be able to come back and say I rejected them because they're whatever? (colour, class, creed, gender, sexual orientation etc etc)

Victor

It is one of those fuzzy areas between domestic and commercial.

If you are a resident, you are perfectly entitled to say whom you will or will not live with.

However, if you are a landlord providing a service, you cannot discriminate.

There are areas within the Equality Act where you can discriminate (you can act preferentially based on age, family status and a few other areas).

You are probably entitled to discriminate to some degree (say asking for a larger deposit) against someone who is not currently an Irish resident (there is an EU directive on this).

The best way to avoid any problems is to not discriminate in the first place and use objective criteria (record if needs be) in who you select.

I think the line will be drawn as to whether this tenant will be part of you household (most likely in the case of "rent-a-room") or not.

claire2003 - are you landlord or tenant?

spongebob

1. Don't ask inappropiate questions. EG Asking a woman if she is pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant is inappropriate.

2. Carry out the interviews with a friend(witness) present.

You'll be sound then.

claire2003

thanks for above advice.

Quote:
are you landlord or tenant

Not really a landlord, just interested in renting out a room in own home (primary residence) under r-a-r scheme.

Victor

If these ad.s came from non-resident landlords, I would be disinclined to allow them.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109980

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109988

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=109999