From the Hotline

By Teri Henning
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Q: Can an ad seeking a roommate state “Female seeking female to share apartment. No kids.”?

A: No. The ad cannot state "no kids." The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act does permits discrimination based on sex when advertising, renting or leasing housing accommodations in one's personal residence if common living areas are shared. The house must be the "landlord's" personal residence, and only applies if "common living areas are shared." Even when an advertiser can show a preference for a particular gender, however, she cannot discriminate against or show a preference for any other protected class.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has recommended that newspapers get something in writing from any advertiser who wants to advertise for a roommate of a particular gender. Specifically, the advertiser should confirm that the housing accommodation is the advertiser’s personal residence, that he or she will be living in the residence and that "common living areas" will be shared with the potential roommate.

Assuming that these conditions are satisfied, the ad could read: "Female seeks female to share apartment."

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