Racial Discrimination in Apartment Rentals1

Abstract

A lack of adequate housing in the Southern California city studied was perceived by minority groups to be the result of racial discrimination. To verify this, 25 apartment houses were visited by male‐female couples from three ethnic groups: Mexican‐American, Negro, and Caucasian. The couples asked about apartment availability, amount of rent, and miscellaneous fees. Fewer apartments were available to the minority groups than to Caucasians (p <.02). Negroes were quoted rents and miscellaneous fees which were higher than those quoted to Caucasians. Overall, Negroes were discriminated against more often than Mexican‐Americans, who in turn were more discriminated against than Caucasians. Seventy‐six percent of the apartment house managers displayed some overt indication of racial discrimination.