Suppose the landlord refuses you as a future tenant. Is that discrimination or not?
It is discrimination if the landlord refuses you for the wrong reasons: reasons that have nothing to do with renting.
These reasons can be:
- the source of your income
- your origin and skin color
- your religion
- your sexual orientation
- your health
- your criminal record
- ....
The landlord may not even ask you for this information. Are you not allowed to rent for any of the above reasons? Then that is discrimination.
A landlord may take these reasons into account:
- the amount of your income
- the number of people you want to live with
Can you be refused as a tenant because you have a disability?
Is the house adapted to your needs? Or is only a minor adjustment needed to the rental property? Then the landlord cannot refuse you because you have a disability.
Example: you can enter the house if a ramp is placed in front of the entrance door. In that case, the landlord cannot refuse you because of your disability.
What do you do if you suspect discrimination?
- Provide proof that you have been refused as a tenant due to discrimination. For example, an email or a video.
- File a complaint with UNIA and the Vlaams Mensenrechteninstituut. Do you want to file a complaint against a real estate agent? You can do so at the BIV.
Do you want compensation for the discrimination?
Then you have to start a legal procedure. It is best to contact a lawyer. The judge can give you:
- an indemnity
- and/or force the landlord not to discriminate anymore
Does the landlord refuse? Then he must pay a fine ('dwangsom')
Note: a judge cannot force a landlord to rent to you.
