The Phone Call I Had to Make

By Enrique Berrios | rentnotice.com

A couple called me once to inquire about a one-bedroom apartment. They were in their mid-sixties and had just qualified for a housing voucher. During that first conversation they mentioned that their current landlord had told them he wouldn't accept it - and that they didn't really want to move. They loved where they lived. They were looking at my unit because they felt they had no choice.

I told them the law was on their side. You cannot turn away a qualified voucher holder in California. Courts have held it's a fair housing violation to do so.

Then I called their landlord.

I introduced myself, explained who I was representing, and let him know - politely - that he was required by law to accept the voucher. I wasn't looking for a fight. I was just passing along information he either didn't have or had chosen to ignore.

They stayed in their apartment. I never filled that unit with them. I didn't care. Their landlord was breaking the law and somebody needed to say so.

Don't break the law.