A Study of Discriminatory Practices in Rental Housing

Abstract

The responsibility for uncovering rental discrimination falls on researchers and all stakeholders in the rental sector. The study examined discriminatory practices in Nigerian rental housing with a view to providing information that could expose the existence of discrimination. Questionnaires were administered on 417 renters and data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The study found disparate treatment of renters in the study area. Rental discriminatory practices found include “Landlord creating different terms or standards for certain tenants” which received a mean score of 3.9614; “I was told housing is not available for rental when it is, in fact, available” received a mean rating of 3.8410; “I was denied negotiation for a rental” (3.4892). The study also revealed that real estate agents discriminate, landlords and tenants also discriminate. Some rental discriminatory forms are subtle and this explain why rental discrimination has proved to be difficult to detect or eliminate. The study recommends for continued fair housing enforcement activities to ensure that all have equal opportunity to housing.

Keywords: Discrimination, rental housing, landlords, renters

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-12-04

Publication date: December 31^st 2021