Selective with tenants in my house?

[Joe Kato]

I know about the 8 protected classes when screening tenants, but fell into a situation today I wasn't sure how to answer. I offered an apartment in the multifamily house I live in to a lady on the phone to come look at, but she said "are you sure you want us beneath you with a 2 and 4 year old kids? I thought if I answered honestly that I don't want to hear kids every day that I might be crossing the discriminatory line? Or is there exception for selecting who lives in your primary residence with you as owner?

[Stephanie Dupuis]

Yup...it's called the "Mrs. Murphy" Exemption.

"Federal Fair Housing Act:

The law does not apply to the rental of a unit or room in a dwelling of up to four units, provided that:

1. The owner occupied one of the units

2. No real estate agent is employed

3. No discriminatory advertising is used

This is sometimes called the Mrs. Murphy exemption."

p. 343 of the Washington Real Estate Fundamentals course book for Real Estate Agents.