Is It A Requirement To Disclose Children Living In An Apartment In California

I am a single mother who is looking for a new apartment in CA. I have started to run into some very personal and inappropriate questions. I am asked how many people will be in the apartment and I say myself and my two children (I am looking at two bedrooms and three bedrooms). Once I disclose this information it is inevitably followed up by "Is there anyone else that will be there to help you?, How old are the children?, Where are you coming from and why are you moving here?" etc. etc.

My question is when people ask me how many people are going to be in the apartment am I required to disclose the children or can I just disclose the adults? Please help as soon as possible, as I am looking for apartments today and this weekend.

Thank you so much!!

You are required to answer honeslty.

I have absolutely no problem being honest. I actually prefer that. But after I answer that question there is an onslaught of questions that aren't appropriate that make me feel as if I am being discriminated against simply because I am a single mother. So at what point do I have a right to not answer questions such as that?

What are the questions your objecting to and why?

Landlords should be cautious about making such inquiries as, if they turn down a tenant after asking, the circumstances suggest that they may be violating fair housing laws by discriminating on the basis of family status. A Fair Housing overview is here.

Quote:

---

Quoting What might be considered discrimination against families with children?

---

• Refusing to rent or sell a residence to families with children
• Treating families with children differently than other residents
• Charging higher security deposits or rent or requiring different lease terms
• Having different house rules for children or restricting them from using common spaces
• Employing overly restrictive rules concerning children
• Requiring families with children to live on certain floors or in a "kids building"
• Advertising an apartment complex as "adult only"
• Giving families with children different terms or conditions than other residents

---

I am objecting to the follow up questions. She asked me if there would be another adult living with me "to help me with the children." I actually told her that I had a nanny, but that she wasn't a live in nanny and she went on to say "Well, you can't leave the children home alone, you know." She then asked me where I was coming from and why I wanted to move there. I object to those question as I feel they are personal in nature, hint at discrimination and are irrelevant to whether I would be a good tennant and could afford the rent, etc.

I am surprised that you are not understanding why I would find these questions objectionable.

Thank you very much for your help.

Asking how many people will be in home is reasonable. Asking where you came from might be for rental history. I personally don't see either as unreasonable