Discriminating against tenants legally

Hartford, Connecticut
Multi-Family and Apartment Investing
1yFollow

Discriminating against tenants legally

James McGovern
Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes

Political viewpoints are not a protected class in Connecticut and anecdotal observations suggest that tenants who lean left make up the overwhelming majority of those who are evicted. It is rare to find an evicted republican or libertarian. Does it make sense to screen tenants based on their political philosophy?

1Reply
151 views

Most Popular Reply

Russell BrazilBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
1y

You are a complete buffoon

[email protected]301-893-4635Podcast Guest on Show #192
District Invest Group545 Reviews
WebsiteView Page
20Reply
See this reply in the discussion

32 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    1y

    lol.. what do you check the voter register ?

    or is it on your application.? 

    Podcast Guest on Show #222
    JLH Capital Partners51 Review
    WebsiteView Page
    3Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @Jay Hinrichs visit over records.com

      0Reply
    • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
      Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @James McGovern:

      @Jay Hinrichs visit over records.com


      James what I do that is totally legal even in Oregon which is liberal state with rent control etc .  But you can require a certain FICO score.. and I do that I require 700 minimum.. And that really has worked well for me.. could take an extra month to fill.. but you get a tenant that is not on assistance and who you can set up auto pay with.. that has served me well in landlord NON friendly markets. I do the same in Vegas..  this also helps in that very few tenants that are on some sort of assistance will have a 700 fico.. but if they did I would take on on assistance to as they are credit worthy and thats what I look for.. And of course the quailty of the neihborhood and area will dictate this as well.. not many 700s want to live in C or D class
      Podcast Guest on Show #222
      JLH Capital Partners51 Review
      WebsiteView Page
      5Reply
    • James Mc Ree
      Rental Property Investor · Malvern, PA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 939 votes
      1y
      Quote from @James McGovern:

      @Jay Hinrichs visit over records.com


       "This site can't be reached."

      0Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @James Mc Ree voter records.com

      0Reply
  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    1y

    Since 95% of Connecticut is left good luck finding a tenant... 

    7e investments53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    7Reply
  • John Clark
    Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @James McGovern:

    Political viewpoints are not a protected class in Connecticut and anecdotal observations suggest that tenants who lean left make up the overwhelming majority of those who are evicted. It is rare to find an evicted republican or libertarian. Does it make sense to screen tenants based on their political philosophy?

    You may have a problem with disparate impact. Blacks for example are disproportionately left/liberal. 
    1Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    1y

    You are a complete buffoon

    [email protected]301-893-4635Podcast Guest on Show #192
    District Invest Group545 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    20Reply
  • Thomas Slifka
    Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 4 votes
    1y

    I live in Derby and am a nurse at Bridgeport Hospital. I think credit and income correlate more than political affiliation. The Yale professors and medical school staff along with most of SW Connecticut probably aren't defaulting on loans.

    3Reply
    • Kurt Schroeder
      Real Estate Broker · CO · Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 1 vote
      1y

      @Thomas Slifka I think I just sent you and invite to connect on LI. Wife and I are both RNs in Denver. I was born in Bridgeport Hospital, grew up in Cheshire/Branford and got my BSN at SCSU. Nurses have time to invest in RE working 3-12s (I actually work 2-12s). Thank you for your service in the Navy. Kurt, MSN, RN, CRRN, CAPS

      1Reply
  • Dan H.Pro Member
    Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @James McGovern:

    Political viewpoints are not a protected class in Connecticut and anecdotal observations suggest that tenants who lean left make up the overwhelming majority of those who are evicted. It is rare to find an evicted republican or libertarian. Does it make sense to screen tenants based on their political philosophy?


    > anecdotal observations suggest that tenants who lean left make up the overwhelming majority of those who are evicted.

    I question this anecdotal evidence.  What is its source!

    Want real evidence (but slightly dated): https://evictionlab.org/rankings/#/evictions?r=United%20Stat...  I challenge you to find one reputable source that depicts your “anecdotal evidence”.

    Highest blue state city on the list is Waterbury, CT at number 22.   The real evidence show red cities have more evictions and delinquent payments than blue cities. 

    My blue market has a 0.2% eviction rate (2022) which is one of the lowest rates in the country.  Like most cities, these rates are highest in the lowest class areas and eviction in above class c are real rare.  My market’s delinquent rent rate is also one of the lowest in the country.  

    Do I attribute it to politics?  No.  I think it is more a consequence of places with housing shortages have tenants that realize they could potential not get another decent place to live in the house short markets if they get evicted.   The housing shortage is more concentrated on the coasts and in blue states.

    Regardless, the stats indicate your premise seems to be incorrect but is it really due to political affiliation or another reason?  Data is not always as clear as it may appear.

    5Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @Dan H.  People fear doing this type of analysis hence why there are no public databases showing this. I worked in IT and did my own analysis 

      0Reply
    • Greg M.
      Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
      1y

      Quote from @Dan H.:

      The real evidence show red cities have more evictions and delinquent payments than blue cities.

      This is exactly what I would expect, but not because of any political afflation of the tenant. Blue cities are going to be much harder to get an eviction. Therefore, fewer filed.  

      With the difficulty to evict, stricter screening standards get applied. In my deep blue city, as the laws have gone from strict to insane, so have my minimum rental criteria. Therefore, I'm less likely to need an eviction.

      1Reply
    • Dan H.Pro Member
      Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Greg M.:

      Quote from @Dan H.:

      The real evidence show red cities have more evictions and delinquent payments than blue cities.

      This is exactly what I would expect, but not because of any political afflation of the tenant. Blue cities are going to be much harder to get an eviction. Therefore, fewer filed.  

      With the difficulty to evict, stricter screening standards get applied. In my deep blue city, as the laws have gone from strict to insane, so have my minimum rental criteria. Therefore, I'm less likely to need an eviction.


       I can understand your rationale but if you look at delinquency rates you see similar data (blue cities in general have the lowest delinquency rates of large cities). 

      However, your part about stringent criteria explains it which is related to the housing shortage (you can set high tenant requirements because the unit will get rented with those high requirements).

      My listings state 1) no evictions ever; no excuses accepted 2) strong LL references.  Paying on time is expected and does not constitute a strong LL recommendation.  Strong implies paying on time, taking care of the unit, and your LL would rent to You again.   If your LL is unwilling to provide a strong recommendation, you do not meet our criteria.  3) no More than 2 other units in the last 5 years (military and students exempt).

       our credit score varies by class of area but Lowest is 660 in class c.   3x income.  

      I have down to Class C.  I usually find a tenant in the initial Open house at market rent.  It is because there is a housing shortage and we provide quality units.   We invite potential tenants to talk with our other tenants. 

      Our criteria is high, but we typically fill vacancies quickly and easily (last vacancy took 2 open houses but usually we only need to have a single open house).  

      We also create our leases so that none expire Oct to march.  Even though we have great weather, less people are looking to move in those months.  

      Best wishes

      0Reply
    • James Hamling
      Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @James McGovern:

      @Dan H.  People fear doing this type of analysis hence why there are no public databases showing this. I worked in IT and did my own analysis 


       "People fear doing this type of analysis...."

      So let me get this straight; you think your some kind of courageous pioneer James, for shizaming up this idea of discriminating tenants on grounds of political affiliation..... 

      Your not. 

      It's idiotic. 

      It isn't even funny. It's just dumb. 

      0Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    1y

    I don't realistically know how you would even do such a thing, but without spending any time trying to research whatever evidence you think you have I'm going to guess it's complete BS as I would almost guarantee there is zero correlation between evictions and political leanings. The worst tenants I've ever had - ultimately left before having to be evicted but did thousands in damages - were almost certainly conservative Republicans. That means nothing because 75% of the people who live in my area are conservative Republicans. I'd bet 75% of the evictions were of conservative Republicans. I would expect similar results in highly liberal areas. 

    Podcast Guest on Show #243
    Skyline Properties
    View Page
    3Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @JD Martin data shows zero republican tenants in Connecticut have been evicted this year

      0Reply
    • JD MartinBusiness Member
      Moderator
      Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @James McGovern:

      @JD Martin data shows zero republican tenants in Connecticut have been evicted this year


       So what? Correlation is not causation. If you want to use statistics to craft your policies, then it would be a good idea to learn how statistical analysis works first. How many other variables did you control for in your analysis besides political affiliation? 

      Podcast Guest on Show #243
      Skyline Properties
      View Page
      0Reply
    • Dan H.Pro Member
      Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @James McGovern:

      @JD Martin data shows zero republican tenants in Connecticut have been evicted this year


       James is either dumb as a rock or a troll or both.

      0Reply
  • Marcus Auerbach
    Investor · Milwaukee - Mequon, WI · Member since 2010 · 5k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    1y

    Good luck with that. I'd rather screen on their financial and work philosophy..

    4Reply
  • James Hamling
    Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    1y

    @James McGovern I can't speak to the intelligence, or lack there of, in discriminating on grounds of political affiliation for tenant screening..... 

    But I sure-as-heck bet it's a world class way to get yourself known as a landlord real fast. 

    A bullet-train to "famous" with all the green haired protestors it's sure to have outside your properties, home, place of work..... 

    Not a form of "famous" I'd ever want but hey, you-do-you. 

    1Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @James Hamling why should I fear protesting. Getting the news out that landlords won't tolerate left leaning ******** from tenants benefit every landlord 

      0Reply
  • Rob Hakes
    Murray, UT · Member since 2016 · 162 posts · 166 votes
    1y

    @James McGovern

    You may want to delete this post lest a 'not so well meaning' person screen shots it and then applies to one of your properties hoping to get declined..........

    Just saying.

    1Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @Rob Hakes why would I want to avoid people from being declined as this would be beneficial 

      0Reply
  • Steve K.
    Realtor · Boulder, CO · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    1y

    Rural areas are typically red so just invest in rural areas if you are too scared to rent to Dems. The only problem is that cities tend to be much better places for rental properties. You know, with all the high-paying jobs and people that want to live there and all. But yeah, just about every major city in the whole country is solid blue so best to avoid those. Look into Tulsa, Fort Worth and Oklahoma City! Probably not a single eviction ever there in those places.   

    edit: I just looked and Tulsa has the 11th highest eviction rate in the country, Fort Worth has more evictions than either Austin or Dallas, and OKC has one of the highest eviction rates in the country at 14%! There goes that theory. 

    1Reply
  • Jeremy Horton
    Rental Property Investor · Somewhere over the Rainbow · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    This post doesn't even make sense. There is zero causation between political views and evictions. 

    You can't even correlate it because there are so many other factors to consider...

    0Reply
  • Don KonipolBusiness Member
    Investor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @James McGovern:

    Political viewpoints are not a protected class in Connecticut and anecdotal observations suggest that tenants who lean left make up the overwhelming majority of those who are evicted. It is rare to find an evicted republican or libertarian. Does it make sense to screen tenants based on their political philosophy?

    I’m more concerned with the laws regarding real estate and judicial action as it relates.  I don’t want the hassle of dealing with laws that punish me for providing housing and reward tenants as if they’re the ones making an investment in the property.  When I lend money there are states I avoid because it can take 10 years to foreclose.  In a nutshell I want to avoid jurisdictions that have little or no respect for private property. 

    In theory your thesis sounds like to might have some validity, BUT, in my 45 + years in real estate I have found little or no correlation that I can see.  Of course, most people (at least until recently) weren’t very vocal about where they stood politically.  If I had a tenant applicant who during the tenant interview shouted “down with capitalism” and volunteered that he was working to confiscate private property I wouldn’t rent to him. 
    Private Mortgage Financing Partners, LLC
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Henry Lazerow
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    It doesn't matter if it's a protected class. The city your in can still sue you as well as the tenants if they hire a tenant rights lawyer. Bad idea and I do not even see any correlation between political views and rent payment rates. The only correlations are credit/landlord referances, even if they are politically anti-landlord tenants with 700+ scores don't want to hurt those scores by not paying or causing problems. I could care less what political party tenants are in.

    0Reply
    • James McGovern
      OP
      Flipper/Rehabber · Bloomfield CT · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 409 votes
      1y

      @Henry Lazerow blue dog democrats as tenants are ok. It is the progressive ones that are problematic 

      0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free