[Mpls] Application Fees

[Laura Waterman Wittstock]

On Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at 09:42 AM, Socialist2001 at cs.com wrote:

> As a renter I never paid an application fee for a background check 
> without
> also signing a lease agreement.
>
> If a landlord wants you to pay an application fee, but doesn't want to 
> sign a
> lease agreement based on the information you provide on the 
> application form,
> it is quite reasonable to suspect that the landlord has no intention 
> of being
> your landlord and is merely picking your pocket. If a wannabe renter 
> reports
> sufficient income and otherwise meets the criteria, why not rent to 
> them on
> the spot?

So many of the people I work with -- clients, students, other members 
of the Indian community, have been repeatedly discriminated against. 
The only conclusion I can draw is that these experiences are in large 
part based on status and class. They are denied rentals, pay fee after 
fee with no result, and lack sufficient representation to assure less 
discrimination.

Some people, like Doug Mann, have different experiences. That's fine.

But the problem does not get fixed based on the anecdotal observations 
of a number of people.

Landlords come in all types of personality and deviations of mental 
health. Tenants do too. It is only through appropriately applied 
regulation and community norms and expectations that more people find 
the housing they need and landlords have reasonable expectations of 
financial return on their investments.

Tip either side of the balance and bad things happen. We have to deal 
with discrimination against people who because of their racial 
background or economic status are vulnerable to landlords who want to 
express their social views through their business dealings. These 
people have to fear consequences or be able to respect order in 
society. Otherwise, discrimination just goes on and on.

Yes, there are destructive tenants. Yes, there are people who skip out 
on the rent or do any number of horrible things in their rented space.

But that is not sufficient reason to discriminate against all potential 
tenants who the landlord eyeballs as not deserving of living in her/his 
property.

I think we can all make a good start by expecting landlords to do a 
better job of reducing the discrimination complaints and perceptions. 
They hold the key to the rental space. They have to behave better in 
this city. We expect them to.

So look around the kindergarten classes this fall. Who are the 
potential landlords? Don't know? Then teach peace and tolerance to 
everyone. It works.

Best,

Laura Wittstock
Southeast
With grandkids in Marcy School where peace abounds



Laura Waterman Wittstock
MIGIZI Communications, Inc.
3123 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612.721.6631 ext 219
wittstock at migizi.org
http://www.migizi.org
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/