or other, laws, you can reply, “Actually, the reason I chose not to rent my home to you is that you didn’t meet my minimum qualification standards, as stipulated here.” For example, maybe the interested party had a credit score of 550, but by your minimum qualification standards, you require at least 600. This isn’t discrimination or any violation of Fair Housing rules. It’s just policy. It’s just business.
REQUIRE THE SAME STANDARDS FROM EVERYONE
Apply your minimum qualification standards to everyone. The only way you decide whether to rent to anyone interested in renting your property is whether they meet your minimum qualification standards. If they do meet these standards, you rent to them. If they don’t, you don’t. Simple. Case closed. No matter what happens in that case, you can’t be falsely accused of a Fair Housing complaint.
SECTION 8 AND SOCIAL SECURITY
In addition, you want to check that you’re not violating any policies with Section 8, Social Security payments, etc., and that you’re following the requirements of the law. For example, some municipalities and some governments, whether city or county, require that any landlord accept any and all Section 8 applicants. So, check with your attorney to ensure compliance with the law. Finally, if you haven’t already, set up your minimum qualification standards. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information. These standards will help protect you from frivolous accusations of Fair Housing discrimination and Fair Housing complaints when renting your home.
Moving on, we’ll start discussing the rental process from A to Z.
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