Oh; You Have Children? No, Thanks
This happens in the rental world, often – landlords refusing to rent to people with children.
Is it legal? No.
HOWEVER, there are three exceptions for when a landlord MAY refuse to rent a unit to someone who has children.
Yes; they may.
Why do landlords refuse to rent to people with children?
A host of reasons exist and after many, many, many years of hearing of TENANT HORROR stories from landlords, I get it.
They don’t want:
• their walls left at move out with paint/crayon marks and multiple holes from playing football indoors
• to hear screaming and running over their head at all hours of the day/night
• to be tripping or other tenants tripping over toys left in the driveway after dark, risking insurance claims
• and so many other reasons for their ‘NO, THANKS’
Yet, we have many families seeking accommodations.
How may we find a middle ground?
How may landlords see the positive side of renting to tenants who have children?
Here are two main reasons why it may be a good idea to rent to tenants with children:
1. STABILITY
Most parents do not want to be moving from house to house, especially not during school terms.
Packing and unpacking many (growing) years of their children’s lives can be exhausting!
Having a place to call home is key for their child/ren to be able to focus properly in class, for one.
Also, during their childhood years is when they learn about developing relationships with others, friendships within their neighbourhood, for instance.
What does this have to do with landlords?
Good question.
Studies show that home stability helps children to thrive in society.
It is also said that stable housing is foundational and fundamental to children’s growth and well-being.
2. CARE
Many tenants who have children recognize that living amongst mess, clutter, and/or filth are not the ingredients for making a happy home for parents nor the children.
Living as such for too long with little ones can negatively affect one’s health.
As such, many parents clean regularly or assign chores to their children to help maintain the home on a consistent basis.
“That’s all good,” thinks the landlord.
LANDLORDS:
If you’ve had one too many doozy of bad experiences with tenants with children, then you do have an out clause – 3, actually – to the laws of the land (the land of Bermuda, that is).
OUT CLAUSE 1: You or a family member must be occupying one of the accommodations on your property (up to 3 units onsite).
OUT CLAUSE 2: You are renting out your unit by the room to individuals of the same sex (if tenant has child/ren of opposite sex).
OUT CLAUSE 3: You are renting out your unit by the room and you or a family member live there too.
Click here and here for further legal clarity. NOTE: Amendments may be made to the relevant Acts going forward. Stay abreast by clicking here. If you need assistance, contact your lawyer.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS WHO EDUCATE.
We hope these tips provided help you to recognize what is and is not allowed by law, provide clarity, and encourage reflection on how our decision-making affects all.
Feel free to SHARE this post with tenants and landlords in such a position.
