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[delron72]

I am pursuing a 2 bedroom apartment. The owner said that each child over 5 needs their own bedroom. I have a 10 month old and a 4 year old. He said in 1 year it will be illegal for them to share a room. Is this true? I have never heard of it.

What exactly are the laws governing people in bedrooms in any rental property by private owners and complexes.

References if possible please...

[karlitis]

A landlord cannot discriminate based on familial status. (There are some exceptions depending on the characteristics of the particular property. For instance, the Federal law does not apply to certain owner-occupied buildings that contain four or fewer units. I'm not sure if Maryland's law has the same exemption.)

If there were any such law requiring 5 year old kids to have separate bedrooms, then half of the families in Balitimore would be criminals. There is no problem with a two year old and 5 year old sharing a bedroom.

By telling you that you cannot occupy the apartment because your 5 year old will need a separate bedroom, the owner has probably violated the Maryland Fair Housing Law, as well as the Federal Fair Housing laws.

I suggest you contact your county's human rights commission, or the state's human relations commission.

[hackett]

Well if your not sure then you should really ask someone that is really tight with the law sorry I couldnt help you!

[dalon]

There are no laws unless you are on public assistance.
If you aren't, the owner of the property has the right to make any rules he wishes.

[amdt57]

I don't know that this is illegal. I've never heard that before and I have MD rentals.

Consider contacting the Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division.

Also see if there is anything in this publication that can help you: http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/landlords.htm

[akule76]

My state actually has such a law, so it was familar to me, but I could not find any evidence that Maryland does.

It is simple...ask the landlord to give you a copy of the statute where the law requires that in Maryland. If he cannot provide that information, safely assume he made it up and file a complaint with HUD for discrimination due to familial status.