This is a tale of conflicting values, where fairness clashes with compassion, and where the protagonist must navigate the delicate balance between sticking to her principles and opening her doors to those who might need them most. It is a moment charged with emotional weight, revealing the complexities behind seemingly straightforward decisions.
I (32F) own a small building I brought very cheap and fixed myself. I am not a shitty landlord; my price is fair and I keep the building in good shape, and fix any problems that appear.
It’s relevant that I don’t accept animals in the building.
I had an empty apartment, so I put an online ad and got a few candidates. I was talking to my sister (40F) and commented that I was searching for a new tenant.
I did my usual, showed the apartment, asked the candidates to fill a form. One of the candidates that came was blind, and he came with a friend. During the visit he commented that he has a service dog.
I commented that as per the ad, I don’t accept animals. He informed me that since it is a service dog, legally his dog is exempt. I said okay and moved the visitation to its end. For me, he automatically went to the last in the list.
Besides not accepting any dogs, I know I have at least three tenants who are allergic to dogs, and I won’t inconvenience my already existing tenants.
I made my choice, and called the candidates to inform them of my choice. Later in the day my sister called me very upset. Turns out the blind guy is my sister’s friend. She told me that her friend called her saying he wasn’t chosen and was pissed.
In turn, she was mad at me, saying he was the perfect tenant and went on and on.
I told her I just took a decision based on my impression and background check, and had a candidate I liked more.
She told me she promised the apartment to her friend and I told her it’s not her property to make promises or decisions, and to call her friend and apologize; I am not changing my choice.
This happened three weeks ago, and she wouldn’t respond to my texts or calls. This weekend we had a family party, and she gave me the cold shoulder all the time.
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) faced a conflict between maintaining the established rules of her property, specifically the no-pet policy and concerns for existing tenants’ well-being, and the expectations set by her sister regarding her friend’s tenancy application. The OP prioritized her role as a responsible landlord and the comfort of current residents over familial pressure.
Is the OP justified in prioritizing her property rules and existing tenant comfort over her sister’s emotional investment and promise to her friend, or did she fail to handle the situation with necessary consideration for the family relationship?
Here’s how people reacted:
However from what you said it sounds like her audacity had nothing to do with your denial because you found out afterwards. At the end of the day your denial WAS based on the dog required for this person to function with their disability. This IS an ableist choice. So yes, it’s kind of an AH move. Are you allowed to do it? Sure. Especially if you aren’t in the US and different laws apply. Still makes you a bit of an AH in my opinion.
It is not relevant AT ALL that you don’t accept pets into the building. Service animals are not pets. They are trained to perform a specific medical function, and aren’t just fur babies.
It is not relevant AT ALL that other tenants have allergies. You are legally required to accomodate.
You openly discriminated against someone with a disability and outed yourself as an ableist. Watch out for the lawsuit, since you literally told a potential tenent with a service animal while touring that you don’t accept animals and then chose another candidate without providing any substantial reason for rejection. You violated the law, and are in fact a shitty landlord for being uneducated, ignorant, and bigoted.
However, you have legal and moral obligations you have overlooked. Would a dog walking through the common areas of the apartment building really affect the other tenants when I assume there are no soft furnishings and it is not a shared living space?
Your attitude towards the blind candidate is discriminatory. You excluded him because of his guide dog. As if people with disabilities don’t face enough challenges in day to day life.
ESH apart from the would be tenant – and his dog.
Did you establish whether the presence of a service dog would actually be a problem for your other tenants? Do you know the dog’s breed and how much it sheds? Do you know what training and behavioural standards are required for service dogs in your area?
is better than anyone with dogs goes to the end of the list of anyone asks you. NTA because it’s a weird situation and you found a perfect tenant. I’d drag this out in front of the whole family if sister wants to keep being a jerk. She had no right and knows it.
Sounds like you were able to shred dramas from your life, your sister is exhausting. She is wrong to promise anything and it sucks to be that blind person but the world don’t revolve around their special needs. You are the owner, you rent to whomever you wants.
Just as you said, it is not her property to make that kind of a promise. Even if you allowed animals, it would still not be her promise to make. She is upset you made her look bad to a friend.
I would wonder how much she really appreciates you as a person and a sister, because what she did was quite disrespectful, and entitled, and she continues to act like that.
Like you said there were 3 better candidates in the toplist, so even if she wouldn’t have one, she would not have been picked.
Would your sister sign a guarantor role for her friend in any property?
Let her sulk. It was not her place to promise anything. If she looked like a fool it’s because she acted like one.
I’m interested however in your ability to know how you have tenants that are allergic to dogs though.
What you did was a clear violation of ADA law, and that blind guy can sue you for it. All disabled people are protected under ADA law.
Please educate yourself on how to be a better and fair landlord.
Pick another reason if you’re going to deny this person, otherwise they can take you to court.
You did a really shitty thing.
,I’m not a shitty landlord‘ – continues to describe active discrimination against a blind person with a service dog.