Re: Is it legal to require communication in English?

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by original poster (GA) on June 22, 2012 @08:37

I appreciate the good suggestions on how I can obtain translation services. To be honest, this is not what I am asking.

I want to know if I can get into legal trouble if in future, I quietly reject any family that does not have at least one adult living in the home who speaks English well enough to communicate on legal matters, repairs, etc.

Getting a translator at 3 am when the pipes have burst is just not reasonable for anyone.

I was naive about how this would work. The kids in the home have not been competent translators as we thought they would be. I have been totally surprised that the kids can barely communicate with their own parents. I never imagined such a thing.

Has anyone had any legal issues from such an unspoken policy? I have nothing against immigrants. I married one. He speaks Canadian :-). I just need to be able to communicate with at least one adult living in my rental home.

Is it legal for me to begin sending written notices in English only of upcoming inspections and repairs, and leave it to them to get it translated at their leisure?

Is it legal for me to require them to send repair requests to me in writing, in English?

I know in California, I'd be violating the law. I'm in Georgia. Can anyone speak to federal law or Georgia law on this?

Thanks,

K

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by NY-LL on June 22, 2012 @09:31	[ Reply ]

"I have nothing against immigrants. I married one. He speaks Canadian." Canada is a country. Canadian is a culture and not a language. French is the language of multiple countries and cultures.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by Anonymous on June 22, 2012 @09:49	[ Reply ]

I think she meant that in a tongue-in-cheek manner and wasn't serious about it being a language.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by original poster (GA) on June 22, 2012 @11:49	[ Reply ]

Wow... ":-)" = "just kidding". If a gentle joke about my Canadian husband offends you, you should hear the jokes his family makes about his American wife from the land of Hee Haw and Dukes of Hazzard.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by Stephen (WA) on June 23, 2012 @23:03	[ Reply ]

The English spoken in Canada is different than the English spoken in the U.S. As George Bernard Shaw reportedly said "England and America are two countries separated by the same language." I believe that Canada could be included in that. If you don't call it "Canadian" I don't know how else to describe it. What I speak is American. The Brits don't claim it as English.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by NY-LL on June 22, 2012 @09:35	[ Reply ]

"I have nothing against immigrants. I married one. He speaks Canadian." Canada is a country. Canadian is a culture and not a language. French is the language of multiple countries and cultures.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by Betty L on June 22, 2012 @10:35	[ Reply ]

"I want to know if I can get into legal trouble if in future, I quietly reject any family that does not have at least one adult living in the home who speaks English well enough to communicate on legal matters, repairs, etc. " YES,FHA prohibits discrimination against non english speaking applicants. It is the applicants resposibility to provide an interpretor. Georgia law is the same as the FHA. Fines start at $16,000 and up. The applicant could file in both Federal and State courts against you. "Has anyone had any legal issues from such an unspoken policy?" Discrimination is illegal, if someone files a complaint against you for such action, it will be investigated and you will wind up defending yourself! "Is it legal for me to begin sending written notices in English only of upcoming inspections and repairs, and leave it to them to get it translated at their leisure?" YES, it is the tenants resposiblity to translate the notices and to understand them.

Re: Is it legal to require communication in English? by original poster (GA) on June 22, 2012 @11:51	[ Reply ]

I appreciate the insight. I will definitely speak to a local lawyer on this before getting a new tenant if the subject comes up next time we are renting, or if any further serious issues occur with our current renters.