Rental housing discrimination across protected classes: Evidence from a randomized experiment

Abstract

This paper provides the first evidence of how landlord treatment of rental housing applicants varies across race, gender, religion, sexuality, and family status. We adopt a randomized correspondence audit design by sending inquiry emails to randomly selected property owners or agents from Craigslist. The signals are conveyed by names, body text, and signature-line quotations. The findings suggest landlords have preferences about tenants and make decisions based on signals communicated in inquiry emails from potential applicants. Blacks, Arab males, Muslims, and single parents are treated unfavorably while gay couples are preferred. These discrimination patterns are generally consistent with the theory of agent-based statistical discrimination. The results provide evidence that many groups protected under U.S. fair housing law continue to face obstacles when searching for housing despite decades of fair housing law.