Housemate Question - Page 2

DAII · #11 08-29-2010, 04:19 PM

Jermyn, I'd be careful how I approach this from a legal point of view. Framing it correctly is important.

Property owners and managers are subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination."

Ultimately you will decide who to rent to ... but you may want to start with a credit check.

Jermyn Davidson · #12 08-29-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAII

Jermyn, I'd be careful how I approach this from a legal point of view. Framing it correctly is important.

Property owners and managers are subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination."

Ultimately you will decide who to rent to ... but you may want to start with a credit check.

Thanks Dan.

I KNOW I have said on my advertisements in the past, "ALL ARE WELCOME".

All are, if they can live by the house rules.

Praxeas · #13 08-29-2010, 04:30 PM

Yeah,here you can't advertise in the newspaper for a Christian. You can say "nice room in Christian home" I think

Jermyn Davidson · #14 08-29-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Yeah,here you can't advertise in the newspaper for a Christian. You can say "nice room in Christian home" I think

I use words like, "laid back", "morally straight", "honest" and "no tolerance for drugs and smoking".

I have used "Christian" prominently on some of the ads, but not all of them.

Some people see the word, "Christian" and think "sucker for my sob story as to why I can't pay so much", unfortunately. Down here, I see it all the time, especially since I have been looking for roommates.

Everyone is a "Christian" when they're in desperate need, it seems.

Praxeas · #15 08-29-2010, 07:19 PM

That's why I suggest going directly to the churches themselves and asking the pastors

jfrog · #16 08-29-2010, 07:36 PM

If you have a roommate and he sins you are not responsible. That being said, if he plans on having a gf over alot then that most likely will become an issue later.

seguidordejesus · #17 08-29-2010, 11:26 PM

Your house, your rules. Sign a contract.

whoami · #18 08-30-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

If I allow it to happen (as in tell him when the time comes, it's ok just as long as she doesn't start living with you), am I codifying or in agreement with his sin?

I haven't read all the responses. My opinion - people are going to sin. If you got a Christian housemate who had exactly the same beliefs as you, they would certainly still at some point commit some sort of sin in your house. Maybe it would be something not as noticeable, and you wouldn't have any knowledge of it so you wouldn't feel responsible, but sin (of some sort) will happen at some point with everyone. So, I wouldn't worry so much about feeling responsible for their sin just because he lives in your house. I'd be more concerned with the practical issues - noise (*snicker*) etc.

So for me, if I thought I could handle all the 'practical' issues with the housemate having a girlfriend spend the night, I'd respond to their "if I become your housemate will I be allowed to have a girlfriend spend the night" with something like "I can't control what you do... but here are my questions about that. Would you be having someone spend the night, or basically live here on the weekends?" or something like that. Then you could make the decision based on their responses to such questions about whether you think they'd be respectful to your home and your preferences. JMO

berkeley · #19 08-30-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Yeah,here you can't advertise in the newspaper for a Christian. You can say "nice room in Christian home" I think

You are also not allowed to specify male or female. Love CA.

Aquila · #20 08-30-2010, 03:52 PM

If you decide to excuse the sin by taking the sinner in, you might want to have "Christian fellowship" on occasion and invite them. In a way, you might have a captive audience.

As for their private lives. I'd ask that they be respectful, keep noise down, and she not "move in" or I'd demand she pay part of the rent.

Think of it as being a "live in landlord". I'm sure Christian landlords rent out to couples in sin all the time. What an opportunity to be a witness!

You'll be a light by your own behavior and disposition. They might start feeling "guilty" and meet elsewhere. Or she might get "convicted" and say no to his advances at some point.

I don't know. I'm just rambling. LOL