A cheeky, practical guide to fighting housing discrimination
Whether it overt or subtle, when combatting landlord discrimination, there are a number of channels you can use to protect your fundamental rights from the get-go, remedy the situation, or penalize a landlord after the discriminatory act has been committed…
A cheeky, practical guide to recognizing housing discrimination
Unfortunately, not all discrimination is overt, and seeming innocuous questions about your faith, marital status, or even pets (to name a few) have been used as grounds for discrimination. Familiarizing yourself with your rental rights and what to look out for.
Although the federally mandated Fair Housing Act provides comprehensive framework curbing housing and rental discrimination, every renter should be aware of these five signs your rental application is discriminatory…
Secretly decorate your rental with temporary chalk art
Love to decorate your walls but your landlord won’t allow you to paint them? I found that artist’s chalks work great for temporary chalk art! I accented an arched kitchen doorway with a chalk vine.
How do you live in a space that doesn’t fit your style?
Unemployment has brought my years of living in quirky shared apartments to an abrupt end. I’m now renting a room in a dear friend’s house, and I think I may go NUTS. I mean, I’m glad that living in a pastel-hued environment makes her happy. I really am. But being surrounded by “soothing” shades of aqua, “adorable” knick-knacks, and “inspirational” quotes is inducing serious angst for me. What’s the Offbeat Homie in a stiflingly decorated environment to do?
Navigating money issues with lower income roommates
I love my roomies, but while I have a sizable savings account and decent income, they are barely living paycheck to paycheck, even with help from family. Our rent is going up and though they’ve assured me they can afford it, I’m getting nervous. I don’t want to loan them money, but I do want to stay current on our bills.
8 surprising ways renters have the better end of the design deal
If I had EVER spent $2700 on any apartment I lived in, it would have been a “look at my design flair” orgasm. With ownership, all that “make things pretty” money gets sucked into the “make things functional in the long term” hole. So without further ado, I would like to let all those frustrated renters out there know the eight ways how you might have the better end of the design deal…
The single mom stigma
I’ve never — not even once — been late on the rent in all my adult life. I have a stable job at a world-class University. I make a decent income. I’m not rich, but I can pay the bills and live comfortably. So why, then, am I seen as a “liability” to landlords? Oh, right. The single mom stigma.
Books, timers, and mallets: Home security measures to keep you safe in your temporary space
We have a whole tag full of safety tips that you might want to peruse. But perhaps the best advice on this subject came from a comment left on this post by Offbeat Homie Stilleto. She had a fabulous breakdown on temporary home security measures…