How would conflict theorists view this case?

In this case, the house belongs to the property owner, so she is in the position of higher standing. She obviously holds more power than the two prospective tenants, Delon and Ashely. While Marx focused on conflict between the owners of the means of production (the bourgeoisie) and people who work for a living (the proletariat), this conflict can be seen among landlords and renters too.  Any increase in rent that benefits the landlord, for example, is a disadvantage for the renter who then must pay more. 

In her conversations with the two tenants, the property owner naturally reveals the intention of protecting her advantages and preventing any damage to her property. She repeatedly reminds the tenants to keep the apartment clean and quiet, and makes clear the due date for the rent. She is reluctant to sacrifice her interests and negotiates with her tenants. For example, in the conversation with Ashely, the she said, “maybe I should add more items in the contract.” This reveals that she wants to protect her advantage and has more power to make decisions. Also, in these conversations, the property owner only mentions her rights and ignores her obligations as a landlord. 

On the other hand, Ashely and Delon are in lower class and status positions than the property owner. Ashely is a single mother with a little boy, and this situation makes it more difficult to maintain a stable job and obtain further education. She works in a grocery store as a checkout clerk and plans to find another job to balance her expenses. Her current job and plan show that Ashely struggles to make a living. She has scarce social resources, which further restricts her choices. The property owner speculates that, “she must have some troubles” after the brief meeting, recognizing the difficult position of single mothers.

Delon too is a working class person.  He has had a succession of unskilled jobs over the years and recently changed jobs.  This raises concerns about his job stability and his ability to pay rent.  In addition, his his status as a minority male gives rise to security concerns on the part of the property owner. In her subsequent conversation with her daughter, she wonders if it is a wise decision to lease her apartment to Delon. This suggests Delon may have to overcome racial stereotypes held by the landlady that may disadvantage him.