What are a Catholic landlord's duties regarding cohabiting couples?

[stellatum]

We have a small apartment within our house (it has its own kitchen and bathroom, but not its own entrance). We often have people staying there, single people or families who are trying to get on their feet. We don’t charge them rent, though they pay for utilities if they can. So our situation is somewhere between that of landlords and that of hosts.

In such a situation, is it our moral responsibility not to accept unmarried couples? Does it matter if the situation is something of an emergency—for example, if there are children involved who would otherwise be in danger or inadequately cared for?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

For the legal aspects of your question, I urge you to consult with a lawyer. You need to be aware of the laws of your municipality regarding fair housing practices.

As to the morality of the matter, I cannot recommend seeking out cohabiting couples. But if you are faced with the request of a couple who is in a crisis situation (particularly if there are children involved), it is not immoral to offer them temporary relief if the alternative is homelessness. I would only recommend not making the offer of relief open-ended, but have an exit plan discussed and explicitly agreed to before allowing those in such circumstances to move in.