Fair Housing

If you want the plain version of the fair housing act, it is the federal law, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, that bans housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. HUD reads sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Many states and cities add more protected classes, such as source of income, age, marital status or military status.

Fair housing touches every step of the resident journey: ads, phone calls, tours, applications, screening, lease terms, rent increases, maintenance, rule enforcement and renewals. It applies to everyone on the team, from leasing agents to maintenance techs, and your company can be held responsible for what its people say and do.

Example: a prospect with a young child asks about a quiet building. A safe answer describes the unit, the amenities and the facts, and lets the prospect decide. An answer like 'families usually prefer the other building' is steering, and it is a violation.

The mistake is thinking that good intentions are enough. Violations are often casual comments, uneven rules or inconsistent follow-up, such as quoting a different deposit to two similar applicants. Use the same criteria and the same process every time, put criteria in writing, and keep records. Train every year, not once, and when a situation feels gray, stop and ask your supervisor or counsel before you act. Check your state and city rules, since they can be stricter than federal law.