What you should know about regional Fair Housing laws
In an effort to provide more equitable access to housing, city councils across the U.S. have passed new laws governing the selection of new tenants and advertising of available properties.
Apartments.com has designed our product to help you navigate the complexity of these rules, but we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Fair Housing laws in your area. Learn more about the Fair Housing Act and Apartments.com here.
Conditional Approval of Applications
In Washington D.C., Cook County (Chicago), and Detroit, new laws have been enacted to regulate how housing providers can use criminal records in the evaluation of potential tenants. At a high level, these local laws require housing providers to make a preliminary decision to rent to an applicant prior to reviewing an applicant's criminal background check. Only after conditional approval is extended can a housing provider review an applicant’s criminal history.
Each locality has different rules around what types of criminal activity and the period of time you can factor into a decision. Furthermore, these laws contain language on how to notify an applicant, if their application is declined, and, in certain circumstances, procedures for applicants to challenge or supplement their application.If you manage a property in one of these areas, you should investigate the required practices outlined in your regional laws.
Source of Income Notice Requirements in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. has passed a law concerning discrimination based on the source of their income. As part of that law, housing providers are required to include in any written materials and advertising the following statement:
“We will not refuse to rent a rental unit to a person because the person will provide the rental payment, in whole or in part, through a voucher for rental housing assistance provided by the District or federal government.”
Disclosure Requirements for Online Rental Advertisements in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA passed an ordinance concerning disclosure requirements for online advertising of rental units. The ordinance requires rental providers to include the following statement in all online listings in 12 point font or larger:
"This unit is a rental unit subject to the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, which limits evictions without just cause, and which states that any waiver by a tenant of their rights under the Rent Ordinance is void as contrary to public policy."
Failure to include this language may result in a fine of up to $1,000.00 per listing.