Typical Landlord Behaviors that Could Unintentionally Cause Housing Discrimination

Landlords play a crucial role in maintaining an equitable rental market, but they can sometimes engage in discriminatory practices that violate fair housing laws. These practices, including race, color, national origin, sexism, and ageism, can create barriers for potential tenants and damage their reputation. This article provides information on unintentional discrimination within housing units and offers strategies to combat it.

Ads that promote bias can lead to housing discrimination. Landlords’ advertising strategies can significantly influence applicant responses. Phrases like “ideal singles” or “family-friendly” can discourage certain groups from applying. Additionally, terms that suggest favoritism for certain nationalities and religious groups can be perceived as discriminatory. To prevent this, landlords should use inclusive and neutral language when listing properties, focusing more on features than demographics.

Inconsistent application criteria for tenants can lead to discriminatory treatment. Landlords should apply uniform screening criteria across each application, avoiding subjective judgments based on credit history, income, and rental history. This prevents unfair targeting of groups due to subjective assessments during screenings, ensuring fair treatment for all applicants.

Landlords may unintentionally discriminate by not accommodating reasonable accommodation requests from tenants with disabilities. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords should make accommodations like service dogs or accessibility standards-compliant modifications. However, some landlords may veto or place unnecessary restrictions. Understanding disability accommodation requirements and responding promptly and respectfully are crucial to prevent discrimination.

Steering is a practice where real estate agents or landlords suggest neighborhoods based on stereotypes, potentially leading to discrimination. This can make tenants feel more at home in areas with a majority African population. To prevent discrimination, tenants should choose their preferred areas or properties freely in an open marketplace, rather than being forced into specific neighborhoods or properties.

Landlords can engage in discriminatory practices when they offer different rental terms or prices based on a tenant’s race, nationality, background, or lifestyle choices. Fair housing laws prohibit landlords from offering lower rent or different amenities based on these factors, ensuring all tenants receive the same terms, leases, and rates without preferential treatment or preference.

Landlords can unintentionally discriminate by not providing equal access to property maintenance and upgrades, including repairs. If landlords prioritize repairs based on race, family status, or disability, this can be considered illegal discrimination under fair housing laws. Landlords must ensure all tenants receive equal care, regardless of personal characteristics, when renting properties out, as required under these laws.

Landlord practices that unintentionally cause housing discrimination include using biased language in ads, inconsistent tenant screening, using neutral terminology, and adhering to fair housing laws. By adhering to these requirements, landlords can create more inclusive rental environments and ensure they are following legal requirements, ultimately leading to more equitable rental markets.