Time to be honest with yourself. Do you have any nasty little prejudices hidden inside that might come out when it comes time to rent out your income property? You don’t have to answer this one out loud but take a moment to reflect. Heard of the Fair Housing Act of 1968? It’s the one that bans discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, nationality, familial status, age, and gender.
Add to that various state and local laws that also prevent discrimination on the basis of income, sexuality. And don’t forget about the Americans With Disabilities Act that protects that group as well.
The end game of all this legality is to recognize that being a landlord might not be your calling if you can see yourself picking and choosing tenants according to any of these standards. The problem these days is that, with our lawsuit crazy society, you might end up the target of a lawsuit even if you’re trying to obey the intent and spirit of the law. Stay on top of it all by being informed.
Even a mistake in the wording of your ad could bring the American Civil Liberties Union watch dogs running. Think about this. You own a rental unit in a mostly Jewish community. You run an ad that says “within walking distance of the synagogue.” WRONG! This could be interpreted as favoring Jewish applicants over all others.
Big mistake.
Out come the wolves. It’s also a good idea to make sure your property manager is well versed in all applicable housing laws, then stand back and let him do his job.
The Platinum Team
