COLUMNIST /// 35
Indirect racial discrimination takes place when a Landlord or a Council introduces a rule or policy that discriminates against people from other racial group , without being able to show that the rule or policy is justified e . g . Introduce preference and quotas
Perhaps , a more holistic approach is needed where instead of using the RTA to combat racism , educating potential landlords and tenants on their shared roles and responsibilities may be the way forward . The problem may not only lie with discrimination of a particular ethnicity , more of a perception that certain ethnicities make less palatable tenants and hence charging of higher rental . This kind of perception would also be perpetuated due to lack of understanding or education in different cultures .
Balancing between the landlords ’ aspiration with tenants ’ need . Top of HBA ’ s wish list in respect of the Residential Tenancy Act ( RTA ), if ever it is to be made law : that the RTA will protect the legitimate interest of landlords against errant tenants and protect the tenant against irresponsible landlords . From our observation , landlords have problems evicting recalcitrant tenants who continues to remain staying on a property but refuses to pay rent or some who do not maintain the property or damages the fixtures and fittings , leaving the property in a ‘ war zone ’ condition .
Many property owners who are landlords could resonate with these kinds of experiences .
At the other end of the spectrum , there are landlords who raise rent arbitrarily and refuse to rectify repairs their properties which may be in a dilapidated condition or refund the tenants ’ security and rental deposit although the tenant has already vacated the property and reinstated the property to a satisfactory condition or find excuses to deduct nonexistent damage to lessen refunds to tenant . Currently , enforcement by both landlord and tenant would need to institute legal actions thru the
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