Fair housing laws encourage equality, prevent discrimination in housing, and strive to ensure that everyone has the right to a safe and comfortable home. Anyway, it can be difficult for rental property managers and owners to comprehend and follow these rules all the time. While the goal of fair housing laws is clear, putting them into action can be a bit challenging.
Understanding fair housing laws and how they apply to you is critical to keeping your rental properties compliant. Stay tuned to catch up on the fundamentals of fair housing laws, common issues with compliance, and outstanding methods for rental property owners and managers.
Understanding Fair Housing Laws
Understand that different federal, state, and local laws may apply to your rental property based on where it is situated. This is the initial step in understanding fair housing laws.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 is the law that most individuals think of when they hear the phrase “fair housing“. At the national level, this act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and family history. The regulations cover buying, renting, and financing homes, and their objective is to ensure equal access to all housing-related transactions.
This act is supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which examines protests and works to uphold fair housing standards across the U.S. Not only does the Fair Housing Act strengthen and uphold the principles of fair housing, but so do other federal housing laws. These regulations jointly contribute to a more equitable housing landscape across the nation.
Along with federal regulations, a number of state and local laws also secure renters. These decrees cover things like eviction rights, security deposit limits, and discrimination due to income source, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Some communities have rent control or stabilization laws to prevent excessive rent increases, warranting the availability of housing in high-demand areas. Local tenant rights may also include protections against eviction during bad weather, access to habitability standards, and necessities like honest communication between landlords and tenants. You can get additional information about housing laws in your state online.
Common Compliance Challenges for Property Owners
Being aware of common scenarios that may result in housing law violations and how to prevent them are equally critical as knowing the laws. For example, some common challenges rental property owners and landlords face when attempting to comply with fair housing laws are caused by unconscious bias or using old methods.
Some property managers and owners have trouble with tenant screening as federal law says you can’t refuse to rent to someone due to their disability, age, or family history. Choosing ahead of time that you will only rent to adults without kids or that you will not rent to people in their 20s are both examples of housing discrimination.
When marketing the property, property owners and managers might want to look for a specific type of tenant, which can cause the same issue. Additionally, most state and federal housing laws don’t allow these methods. You can better ensure fair and equitable treatment of all prospective residents by knowing these problems and adjusting your screening and marketing methods.
Best Practices for Ensuring Compliance
There are vital steps to make sure that your property management strategies are in keeping with fair housing laws, such as creating and sticking to a standardized application process and generating standards for tenant inspections. This is the ideal approach to prevent discrimination that isn’t intended. Other best practices to ensure compliance include:
- Using inclusive language in rental advertisements is another best approach to make sure you’re obeying the rules.
- Be consistent with each applicant by providing them with the same information, following the same procedures, and executing the same follow-up actions for each applicant.
- Ensure that your lease terms, rules, and guidelines are equally fair to all tenants.
- Remain familiar with reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities and respond to such requests promptly and appropriately.
- Maintain detailed records of all applications, interactions, and choices, noting your descriptions for approvals and denials in case of future disputes or inquiries.
- When making policies or dealing with tricky scenarios, consult an attorney or legal expert.
To keep things consistent, it’s advisable to create and follow a written non-discrimination policy that shows your commitment to Fair Housing compliance.
Property Management Companies in Fair Housing Compliance
All relevant local, state, and federal regulations should be understood by experienced property managers. They also have procedures in place to make sure that your connections with tenants, background checks, paperwork, and other errands comply with these regulations since they are trained professionals. This can give you contentment and help reduce the risk of discrimination claims altogether.
Building a Fair Housing Culture
Since there is a lot at stake in an investment property, it’s vital to understand laws governing rental properties, housing, and other connected topics. This will help you prevent trouble with the law. By learning about and obeying fair housing laws, property owners may add to the equitable treatment of all tenants.
Engaging with an experienced property management company like Real Property Management Crossroads can help you figure out the complex fair housing rules in Indianapolis and the nearby areas. Contact us or call 317-218-7800 right now to get more information about how to ensure you’re following the law when it comes to housing and other quality management services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
