We've been forced to rent again after 20+ years, however every time we inquire about a home the first question is how many kids? After I tell them 8, but 2 will be moving out as soon as we all get settled, I never hear back.
Do I have to tell them? It's not like I'm looking at small apartments. I'm after 4/5 bedroom homes with about 3000 square feet. I've even been asked if they're boys or girls.
Is that legal?
Thanks.

Do I have to tell them? It's not like I'm looking at small apartments. I'm after 4/5 bedroom homes with about 3000 square feet. I've even been asked if they're boys or girls. Is that legal?Hello mama:

They can't ask you if you're gay or not, but they can ask how many kids you have. Landlords are worried about the damage that lots of kids could cause. It's a reasonable concern, don't you think? Since they think that way, you could certainly offer a larger than usual security deposit. That could interest some landlords.

excon

Contact fair housing and tell them.
It is discrimination if the house is big enough to live comfortably. They may be able to help you with ways to deal with it since it is hard to prove it is discrimination in many cases.

Like if they say they choose to rent to somebody else rather than you you can not prove discrimination intent.

National Fair Housing Advocate Online (http://www.fairhousing.com/)
Suit claims housing discrimination by Fresno firm
(FRESNO, Calif. July 10, 2009) -- Civil rights attorneys are filing a federal lawsuit claiming two classified ad companies discriminated against families with children by publishing advertisements for housing that stated kids weren't allowed.
The National Fair Housing Alliance and the Fair Housing Council of Central California filed suit in a U.S. District Court in Fresno Thursday against Nevada-based American Classifieds, LLC, which also has a free classifieds newspaper called Thrifty Nickel. The suit also names Want Ads of Visalia, Inc, which does business as American Classifieds.
Lawyers claim the companies violated state and federal fair housing laws by sending out papers with more than 60 advertisements including phrases such as "No kids allowed" or "Adults only." FULL STORY at forbes.com

Discrimination against Families with Children, Tenant Rights (http://www.discriminationiswrong.com/families.html)

I have heard of fair housing sending people out to act as though they wanted to rent to see if they thought the landlord was using discrimination or not.

Same in NY - spotters go out, pose as renters with children, landlords get fined if they are discriminating. As "Nohelp" said - if the house is large enough for the number of children you have the landlord must rent to you UNLESS there is some other problem which makes you an undesirable tenant.

-- Civil rights attorneys are filing a federal lawsuit claiming two classified ad companies discriminated against families with children by publishing advertisements for housing that stated kids weren't allowed.
The National Fair Housing Alliance and the Fair Housing Council of Central California filed suit in a U.S. District Court in Fresno Thursday against Nevada-based American Classifieds, LLC, which also has a free classifieds newspaper called Thrifty Nickel. The suit also names Want Ads of Visalia, Inc, which does business as American Classifieds.
Lawyers claim the companies violated state and federal fair housing laws by sending out papers with more than 60 advertisements including phrases such as "No kids allowed"

Is that weird or what?

I am in the outskirts of Destin, Florida, where this story originates. 'No children' = discrimination, ad lawsuit claims | fair, housing, children - News - Northwest Florida Daily News (http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/fair-18752-housing-children.html)

Anyway, the reason I Googled it, is that I would be surprised if the paper can be held liable for running such ads (as opposed to the LLs who paid for the ads).