Rental Discrimination Research Articles

Different names, different discrimination? How perceptions of names can explain rental discrimination.

The aim of this research is to look into how signals carried by names can contribute to the explanation of why rental discrimination is measured. Ethnic discrimination on the rental housing market is a widespread phenomenon that is increasingly captured in an objective way by means of correspondence studies. This methodology assumes that the trigger for the measured discriminatory behavior is the signal of ethnic origin in names. Nonetheless, previous research found that names also contain other signals such as religiosity, social class and educational level. The current study relates data of 3.753 correspondence tests on the Flemish rental housing market in Belgium to survey data about the perception of the used names in the correspondence tests in terms of ethnic origin, gender, religiosity, social class and educational level. By doing so, we can set a step in the direction of why discrimination is measured. We find that realtors discriminate based on the perception of a name as religious, which we describe as religious taste-based discrimination. Besides, we also find indications for statistical discrimination. For landlords, the perception of a name as non-European increases discrimination, indicating ethnic taste-based discrimination.

Identifying rental discrimination on the Flemish housing market: an intersectional approach

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify rental discrimination on the Flemish rental housing market in Belgium, taking the intersectional nature of discrimination into account. Most discrimination studies focus on unequal access based on one individual discrimination ground. This practice eludes the context of the other discrimination grounds in which rental discrimination occurs and neglects the intersectional nature of discrimination. We therefore conducted 8.245 correspondence tests in almost all municipalities in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. We apply an intersectional lens, by considering the relation and interaction between gender (male/female), ethnic origin (Moroccan/Polish) and the homogeneity of names (homogenous/mixed). We find four strata of rental discrimination, in which Moroccan female rental candidates with a homogenous name experience most discrimination, indicating that multiple categorical identities enforce each other. Without a full intersectional approach, these layered patterns of exclusion would have been hidden behind the bold boundaries of ethnic or gender categorizations.

Intersectionalizing Housing Discrimination Under Rentier Capitalism in an Asset-Based Society

ABSTRACT Rental discrimination is a key factor in the reproduction of socio-economic inequality under emergent rentier capitalism within the asset society. Our research into the effects of discrimination in the Australian private rental sector shows how factors including age, race, gender and socio-economic status intersect to shape experiences of discrimination. A compounding and exponential discriminatory burden – financial, psychological, and physical – confronts those experiencing discrimination based on more than one factor. Yet, to date, policy aimed at improving housing experiences has largely been ad hoc and carried out in policy siloes. We argue for an intersectionalized approach to housing research, planning and policy, highlighting the conceptual value of intersectionality for responding to structural disadvantage and lived experiences of discrimination amid rentier and asset logics.

Ethnic prejudices and public support for anti-discrimination policies on the housing market

Notwithstanding persistent levels of ethnic discrimination on the rental housing market, we have witnessed in many West-European countries a shift from targeted multicultural to colour-blind policies. At the same time, anti-immigration attitudes remained relatively stable. Whether and how these attitudes are translated in support or aversion toward anti-discrimination policies is, however, still unclear. As the first study in Europe we analyse public support for eight policy measures to tackle rental discrimination against ethnic minorities. Based on multilevel analyses among a sample of 899 adults in Belgium, we show that there is large support among the general public for testing, training and campaigning against ethnic discrimination on the housing market. General support for affirmative action measures is, however, much lower. In addition, support for anti-discrimination policies is strongly related to ethnic prejudices. People with more – especially subtle – prejudices are less likely to support policies against rental discrimination. Moreover, prejudices also mediate the effects of interethnic contacts and outgroup size on policy support. Finally, local housing market indicators do not play a significant role in the public support for anti-discrimination policies on the housing market.

Introducing a vignette experiment to study mechanisms of ethnic discrimination on the housing market.

Ethnic discrimination on the housing market has been subject of research for years. While a field experimental approach is widespread, alternative attempts to objectively measure mechanisms of discrimination on the housing market are scarce. In line with labor market research, we stress that to reduce rental discrimination against ethnic minorities, we need understanding its underlying mechanisms. This is the first paper that introduces a vignette experiment to do so. We distinguish between four mechanisms put forward in the literature but hardly ever empirically tested: agent taste-based discrimination, owner taste-based discrimination, neighborhood taste-based discrimination and statistical discrimination, in a multifactorial vignette experiment among 576 pre graduate real estate student. In addition, our experimental design allows us to examine whether unequal treatment is heterogeneous by property owner and neighborhood characteristics.

A Study of Discriminatory Practices in Rental Housing

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

Rental discrimination, perceived threat and public attitudes towards immigration and refugees

ABSTRACT There is still little research about the association of anti-immigrant attitudes with ethnic discrimination. In this study we investigate whether there is more rental discrimination against ethnic minorities in Belgian municipalities with more negative attitudes and higher perceived threats toward immigration and refugees. For this purpose, we merged unique data from correspondence tests with the aggregated attitudes in 44 municipalities. There was profound discrimination against candidates with Moroccan names by both private landlords and realtors. In contrast to theoretical expectations there was not more ethnic discrimination in municipalities with more negative attitudes or higher perceived threats. However, it appears that rental candidates – irrespective of their ethnic origin – are less likely to be invited in municipalities with higher threats and more negative attitudes.

Exploring the Issues of Social Inclusion in Queer Identities

This is a qualitative study to explore the issues and status of social inclusion of queer identities i.e. lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). For this purpose, using the purposive technique, ten samples from Kathmandu and Pokhara were taken for interview along with a participatory observation. The generated data were presented in paraphrasing, verbatim, and case study form. The secondary data were reflexively embedded throughout the analysis. Confidentiality and cultural safety were maintained through the use of pseudo name in the study. The theory of recognition and the queer theory were used to make a discussion more trustworthy. The empirical data show that gender identity, relationships; social exclusion; effects of consumerism; school enrolment, and environment; employment, rental discrimination; polysexuality; sexual violence; and legalization of same-sex marriage or partnership were surfaced as the major issues of LGBT in Nepal. The empirical data also show that different people have different levels of exclusion. The identity issue against relationship is found a major threat for their inclusion. However, they were less worried about their own identity than their social relationships. Hence, they were compelled to maintain double standard identities because of the fear of relationship breakup. In this context, some steps are needed to be initiated for their inclusion, such as making gender and sexuality responsive policies and laws; institutionalizing collective identity; evading genderism, stereotyped stigma and superstitions; incorporating indigenous moralities and wisdom; improving heteropatriarchal norms; providing opportunity and environment of education; and making sexuality and LGBT friendly school curriculum and environment.

Can the Government Deter Discrimination? Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in New York City

Racial discrimination persists despite established antidiscrimination laws. A common government strategy to deter discrimination is to publicize the law and communicate potential penalties for violations. We study this strategy by coupling an audit experiment with a randomized intervention involving nearly 700 landlords in New York City and report the first causal estimates of the effect on rental discrimination against blacks and Hispanics of a targeted government messaging campaign. We uncover discrimination levels higher than prior estimates indicate, especially against Hispanics, who are approximately 6 percentage points less likely to receive callbacks and offers than whites. We find suggestive evidence that government messaging can reduce discrimination against Hispanics but not against blacks. The findings confirm discrimination’s persistence and suggest that government messaging can address it in some settings, but more work is needed to understand the conditions under which such appeals are most effective.

Rental Discrimination in the Multi-ethnic Metropolis: Evidence from Sydney

Investigating differential treatment in rental housing markets is important to ensure that renters are not discriminated against based on their personal characteristics. However, little Australian research has focused systematically on this question. This paper reports the results of a study that used paired tests to estimate the extent of differential treatment of Anglo, Indian, and Muslim Middle Eastern renters in the Sydney metropolitan housing market. We find statistically significant differences in treatment on several measures, including the likelihood an agent will offer an individual appointment, will provide additional information about other housing, will provide additional information about completing the application form, and will contact a prospective renter after an inspection.

The Effects of Multiple Stigmas on Discrimination in the German Housing Market

Abstract. In two online field-experiments (N1 = 336, N2 = 456) we investigated the effects of belonging to an ethnic minority, a sexual minority, or to both minority groups simultaneously on rental discrimination in Germany. We predicted that a Turkish heterosexual couple and a German gay male couple would receive fewer replies to their inquiries about a rental offering and fewer invitations for viewings than a German heterosexual couple. We also predicted that the intersection of two stigmatized identities would have beneficial effects and thus result in less discrimination of the Turkish gay male couple compared to the Turkish heterosexual couple. Chi-square tests revealed evidence of rental discrimination based on ethnicity, but not for discrimination based on sexual orientation; no evidence for beneficial effects of the intersection of two stigmatized identities was found. Implications for future research on discrimination of ethnic and sexual minorities are discussed.

Public housing and gender: Contextualizing the “We Call These Projects Home” report

The “We Call These Projects Home” (WCTPH) report draws attention to the ways in which US public housing policy has disregarded the input and preferences of public housing residents, a population largely composed of women of color. In this article, I examine the findings from the WCTPH report in the context of past and recent research on poverty, housing, race, and gender. I explain how breaking up communities and social networks in the shift from housing projects to housing vouchers destroys social support networks, which are essential to the survival of poor women and single-mother headed families. I discuss challenges women may face in the shift to housing vouchers in light of recent research on continued rental discrimination and sexual harassment in the private housing market. Overall, I emphasize how the findings from the WCTPH report have important implications for women of color, and argue that a gender analysis of public housing is central to understanding and remedying the multitude of challenges public housing policy presents.

No Room for New Families? A Field Experiment Measuring Rental Discrimination against Same-Sex Couples and Single Parents

We suggest that new forms of family households, especially same-sex couples and single parents, are likely to face discrimination in their interactions with rental markets. Following the contact hypothesis, we hypothesize that the geographic distribution of discrimination is likely to vary. Specifically, in places with more new family households we are likely to find less discrimination against these households. We investigate these issues in the metropolitan area of Vancouver, Canada, through analysis of 1,669 inquiries made about one- and two-bedroom apartments. Using a field experimental design similar to audit studies, we analyze landlord responses to five different two-person household scenarios, including one heterosexual couple, two same-sex couples, and two single parents. Evidence suggests that male same-sex couples, single mothers, and single fathers all face significant discrimination relative to heterosexual couples. The contact hypothesis was supported for male same-sex couples, but not for single parents. This could indicate that single parents are facing discrimination primarily based upon their economic marginalization rather than other forms of prejudice.

Rental Discrimination and Ethnicity in Names1

Laboratory studies have demonstrated the ability of names to prime stereotypes. To apply these theories and test the effect of name‐based ethnic stereotypes on housing discrimination, 1,115 inquiry e‐mail messages were sent to landlords advertising apartment vacancies in Los Angeles County over 10 weeks (6 weeks before the conflict with Iraq began in March 2003 and 4 weeks during the conflict). One of three names that implied either Arab, African American, or White ethnicity was randomly assigned to each of the messages sent. African American and Arab names received significantly fewer positive responses than the White name, and the African American name fared worst of all. This pattern held true in all rent categories, in corporate and privately owned apartment complexes, and before and during the war in Iraq.