OCHA Posting Policy

In order to better serve the students of the University of Washington and ensure that discrimination laws are met, the Off-Campus Housing Affairs (OCHA) has established the following guidelines to which all persons listing with the OCHA office must comply.

  1. The ASUW, GPSS, and OCHA provide this service to the students, faculty and staff of the University of Washington, and in doing so do not endorse or recommend any landlords, tenants or rental facilities posted through this office. Further, OCHA assumes no responsibility for any information contained in its offices, listings and evaluations, nor does OCHA assume any responsibility for any events that may arise from their use. This service is provided in order for landlords and renters to contact each other and to provide a forum for student concerns regarding housing situations.
  2. Listings on bulletin boards in HUB G-20 will be dated and are expected to conform to all OCHA policies. Those listings found undated on the commnity bulletin board will be removed. Ads placed anywhere else without OCHA approval will be removed. Those listings submitted to be posted on the glass enclosed boards, as well as the community bulletin board, found in violation of OCHA policies will be removed or edited to ensure compliance. All listings in the database will remain up until the landlord or admin removes the listing.
  3. Persons listing with OCHA will be allowed one listing for each property under their control (one house or apartment unit or room equals one property). If there is more than one listing for the same unit, they will be removed by OCHA staff.
  4. Due to space limitations of the community bulletin board immediately outside the inner office of OCHA, no listings larger than 8.5" X 11" will be posted. Listings blocking others will be moved or removed. Listings covering OCHA signs, or placed on the walls or other bulletin boards will be removed. Ads with tear tabs will be removed when the last tab is gone.
  5. OCHA may not post listings that are in violation of any Federal, State, County, or City housing laws. These laws include, but are not limited to, discrimination based on race, sex, creed, color, or national origin, ancestry, marital status, parental status, physical disability, sexual orientation, and political ideology.

Applicable Laws

Some exceptions to the Posting Policy are allowed for those listings that conform to the definition of "shared housing." These exceptions are listed in the Unfair Housing Practices code 14.08.190. The primary exception is that a person living in the same unit (i.e. the same apartment) may request a roommate the same gender as himself or herself. OCHA can answer some questions regarding these conditions, but does not dispense legal advice. OCHA reserves the right to edit postings. The posted office policy is based upon recommendations by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.

To ensure compliance with all applicable laws, please observe the following:

  1. In ANY ad, do not mention the age of the person you are looking for. Also, please refrain from mentioning the standing (Jr., Sr., grad, prof) that you are looking for. The wording is up to the discretion of the Director, and may be edited.
  2. If you have a split household (male and female), DO NOT mention the gender you are looking for to maintain balance.
  3. Other words to avoid: quiet (for a person's attribute), couples, live-in-lovers, sane, single, etc.

Ideally, what is acceptable is a description of the dwelling and yourselves (if it's a shared situation). It is up to you in the interview or when you are contacted by a potential renter to discuss what you are looking for in a roommate/tenant. OCHA reserves the right to edit postings.

Reasons for wording policy

  1. Standing of student (i.e. graduate, Sr., Jr., etc.) - while not a protected class, this can be considered age discrimination. Better wording - if you are looking for attributes of typical grad students, use words like "studious," "responsible, "mature."
  2. Quiet (i.e. quiet and studious person only) - can be considered discrimination on the basis of handicap, for those who have syndromes such as Tourette's, where they are loud occasionally. Better wording - studious
  3. Listing of ideal age range - can be considered age discrimination. Better wording - describe yourselves and ages.
  4. Specifying a Female or Male preference - okay to use ONLY if the dwelling is all one gender. If it is a split household, it can be considered discrimination on the basis of sex.
  5. Couple, single, live in lover - depending on the wording of the ad, some leeway may be granted at the discretion of the Director. Generally, it can be considered discrimination on the basis of marital status. Please ask if you have questions about this.

Caveat

The OCHA office will not post any listings from persons who are:
  1. Found guilty by court or government agency of violating government laws and codes with respect to their tenants, properties, or University of Washington students, staff, or faculty; and/or In violation in accordance with OCHA's Complaint Policy. (Note: The Complaint Policy is currently under review and will be posted upon approval by the Attorney General's office.)
  2. All violations of a legal nature or regarding code violations will be referred to the appropriate government agency for investigation. Listings are expected to conform to all applicable Federal, State, City and County building/housing codes and laws.
  3. We shall prohibit advertisements, through University publications, programs or services, for any rental or leased housing against which an uncorrected notice of violation of Seattle Municipal Code 22.206 (Habitable Buildings) has been issued by DPD within the five years preceding the date the advertising is to occur, if DPD has recorded the violation with King County. Each such prohibition shall remain in place unless the person seeking to advertise the housing demonstrates that the notice has been corrected, or DPD informs the University that the notice (or notices) has been corrected. If DPD changes its practice regarding which notices are filed with King County, then DPD shall report quarterly to the University about comparable notices of violation, and the program shall prohibit advertising based on the comparable notices of violation, to the extent consistent with due process of law considerations.