As a rental home owner, you want quality tenants who will pay their rent on time and take care of your property. Your Real Property Management team advertises your property and thoroughly screens applicants to find the best possible residents, without discrimination, and according to all laws.
The Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) introduced federal enforcement mechanisms to outlaw discrimination of renters and home buyers. According to the law, it is illegal to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Some states also have additional non-discrimination laws.
The consequences for not abiding by fair housing laws are severe. Here are a few recent judgements.
- May 2016: A mobile home park was ordered to pay $100,000 to each individual aggrieved and $30,000 civil penalty for discriminating against families.
- March 2016: Awarded $30,000 to each aggrieved individual and $10,000 civil penalty for failing to show African-American renters available housing and features.
- March 2016: Awarded $2.7 million to aggrieved parties who participated in Section 8 and were sexually harassed by two Property Management employees.
- June 2015: Awarded $600,000 to two individuals and a $50,000 civil penalty for prohibiting residents from keeping their service and emotional support animals in no pet housing.
Real Property Management employees are trained in what can and can’t be done in advertising properties and selecting tenants, to comply with the Fair Housing Law. We treat every potential tenant exactly the same, every time. We screen residents and hold them to the same criteria as all other applicants. We advertise the features and locations of rental property, not the people who live there. We set rules for all occupants, not for a selected class.
Understanding and abiding by local and federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act is an unseen value to Real Property Management clients. Because there are no costs to you for complying with the law you may not appreciate it as much as you would other property management services, but you can have peace of mind knowing we’ve got your back.
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.
