U.S. government sues Airbnb after host rejected rental to mother with three children

Airbnb Inc. ABNB-Q was sued by the U.S. government on Friday over a host’s refusal to rent an apartment to a mother with three school-age children.

In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the Department of Justice said the home rental company violated the Fair Housing Act through Jarrod Blake’s rejection of a rental for Charisse Ylitalo and her sons, aged 9, 11 and 14.

The complaint said Airbnb lets hosts designate property as unsuitable for children aged 2 to 12, or infants under age 2. Airbnb did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ylitalo had sought a three-month rental in late 2020 in Huntsville, Alabama, where she and her husband Christopher had just sold their home, to minimize disruptions for their children before moving to Hawaii, where Christopher had taken a new job.

Blake allegedly told Ylitalo “this apartment is not suitable for kids,” prompting her to object.

“My kids are 14, 9 & 11,” she said. “I would understand if they were little…