can be autism be a reason not renew a lease?!

[Amber4]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

My children and I got in the terrible , horrible situation. Last September we separated with my husband (divorce is not final yet) and I with children (2 boys, 8 and 10 years old) rented an apartment. A week ago I received a letter from the Landlord that they will not renew my lease. Officially , of course they do not give me any the reason(s), simply because they do not have to.... but not officially, I found out that it was because my oldest son. My son is autistic, but I could never even imagine that this could be a reason! no one ever complained about him, but on one day he wasn't very politely to the office staff, he apologized and I thought I explained to them all the issues. In short, they decided to get rid of us. The problem is that I have enough to pay one rent payment, and to move I need 3 of them ..... and we do not have relatives too .... I have only 2 months, and the queue for subsidized apartments from 2-4 years. ....
What do people do in these situations? How do I protect my children? I really need advice .....

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

My children and I got in the terrible , horrible situation. Last September we separated with my husband (divorce is not final yet) and I with children (2 boys, 8 and 10 years old) rented an apartment. A week ago I received a letter from the Landlord that they will not renew my lease. Officially , of course they do not give me any the reason(s), simply because they do not have to.... but not officially, I found out that it was because my oldest son. My son is autistic, but I could never even imagine that this could be a reason! no one ever complained about him, but on one day he wasn't very politely to the office staff, he apologized and I thought I explained to them all the issues. In short, they decided to get rid of us. The problem is that I have enough to pay one rent payment, and to move I need 3 of them ..... and we do not have relatives too .... I have only 2 months, and the queue for subsidized apartments from 2-4 years. ....
What do people do in these situations? How do I protect my children? I really need advice .....

Can you be more cohreant? Presise ,breifly to the point?

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

My children and I got in the terrible , horrible situation. Last September we separated with my husband (divorce is not final yet) and I with children (2 boys, 8 and 10 years old) rented an apartment. A week ago I received a letter from the Landlord that they will not renew my lease. Officially , of course they do not give me any the reason(s), simply because they do not have to.... but not officially, I found out that it was because my oldest son. My son is autistic, but I could never even imagine that this could be a reason! no one ever complained about him, but on one day he wasn't very politely to the office staff, he apologized and I thought I explained to them all the issues. In short, they decided to get rid of us. The problem is that I have enough to pay one rent payment, and to move I need 3 of them ..... and we do not have relatives too .... I have only 2 months, and the queue for subsidized apartments from 2-4 years. ....
What do people do in these situations? How do I protect my children? I really need advice .....

You could give custody of the children to their father and get on your feet. You can work extra hours. You can apply for assistance. You can cut back on everything (no cable, no internet) and just the bare necessities.

Do you think you have cause to sue the apartment for not renewing your lease?

 

[mmmagique]

I think the OP should be aware that should she give custody to the father, that, no matter what he says, legally, it would most likely end up being permanent. (unless he willingly gave them back)

 

[Ohiogal]

I think the OP should be aware that should she give custody to the father, that, no matter what he says, legally, it would most likely end up being permanent. (unless he willingly gave them back)

True. Unless they did a shared parenting of some point. I don't think she has a lawsuit and she can't force the landlord to keep her. She has been given notice. She needs to find a way to move.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

"What do people do in these situations"

You request that your husband provide you with the extra money that you and the children (yours AND his) need to find another place to live.

Gail

 

[Amber4]

You could give custody of the children to their father and get on your feet. You can work extra hours. You can apply for assistance. You can cut back on everything (no cable, no internet) and just the bare necessities.

Do you think you have cause to sue the apartment for not renewing your lease?

Do I think that I have a case for Landlord?
I think that their behavior is deeply immoral, but it does not matter.
I work all the hours possible ... to give children to my ex-husband is not an option.
I just need financing help to move.
I appealed to the women's centers , to the Bar Association, Feria Housing, disability rights network...... not much help.....
I maybe looking in a wrong direction.....
but what kind of assistance can I apply?

 

[STEPHAN]

What city?

 

[Amber4]

What city?

it is Central Bucks county, city is Warrington,PA

 

[OK-LL]

Organization such as Red Cross and Salvation Army may be able to provide you with a list of local charities and other organizations that assist families in housing crisis. Many of these organizations will assist you with the security deposit and rent required to relocate. Also, church organizations such as Catholic Charities can help you with resources and funds.

 

[tranquility]

While a landlord can not renew a lease if he wants, he cannot not renew for an illegal reason. If it could be proven the lease was not renewed because of the autistic son, it might very well be a violation of fair housing laws absent specific and reasonable concerns over safety. However, with the way the OP phrased the question, it is clear such a motivation on the part of the landlord would never be proven so I'll have to agree with the others on the best course of action(s).

 

[Amber4]

Organization such as Red Cross and Salvation Army may be able to provide you with a list of local charities and other organizations that assist families in housing crisis. Many of these organizations will assist you with the security deposit and rent required to relocate. Also, church organizations such as Catholic Charities can help you with resources and funds.

thank you very much! will try it

 

[Amber4]

Yes, unfortunately I will not able to prove anything. Let it be on their conscience, I have other problems to be solved. Thank you all a lot for the advices and listening! We definitely will cope with all our difficulties!

 

[FarmerJ]

In some places catholic charities has low income housing programs and LSS may be worth checking too. Unless you have hard proof that your sons disability is the reason they refused to renew it would be hard to prove in court.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

"Last September we separated with my husband (divorce is not final yet) and I with children (2 boys, 8 and 10 years old) rented an apartment."

" to give children to my ex-husband is not an option"


You do not have an "ex-husband"..yet. You have a husband. And while it is noble to attempt to "go this alone" the simple fact is that attempting to raise three children alone is a daunting task, made even more challenging with an autistic child. Hopefully you are smart enough to make certain that their father is paying his share of the upkeep for these children, including helping to find another place for them to have a roof over their heads.

" but not officially, I found out that it was because my oldest son. My son is autistic, but I could never even imagine that this could be a reason."

"Unofficially" means nothing legally.

Gail