Tenants – and potential tenants – have rights, and discrimination by potential landlords is a big no-no. As such, property manager questions must be fair and there are laws on the books that mandate it.
The Fair Housing Act was put in place to ensure that anyone can rent or buy without fear of discriminatory practices. That means there are certain questions – some of which may even seem like harmless small talk – that no property manager should ever ask.
Here are seven topics that are always off the table.
While most applications will likely require you to list your date of birth, directly asking is not permitted. It’s illegal for landlords to cut potential tenants from consideration for being too young or old. Save senior housing communities, it’s a non-starter.
Are you married? Are you straight or gay? If the property manager questions you about this, he or she will be in direct violation of the Fair Housing Act, for which the penalties can be very serious.
Besides, it’s none of your landlord’s business, so even if it’s prompted by what looks like an engagement ring, be wary.
If you’ve been convicted of a crime, it will show up on a standard and legal background check. But not all of those who are arrested are guilty, and a landlord or property manager isn’t entitled to this information.
Anything about them – from how many you have to where they attend school to whether you plan on having more – is off limits. Even if you find it on your application, you’re not required to answer.
While you might inquire about child-friendly venues in the neighborhood because you’re curious, if your property manager questions you about it – take note. It’s a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Perhaps you have an accent and get asked this sort of thing all the time. But it’s a big no-no for a property manager because it brushes up against a person’s nationality, something the Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from asking.
Again, this could be an innocent question borne of concern. Perhaps the property isn’t well suited for someone who can’t walk or see, but the law clearly states that people with disabilities have the same renters’ rights as anyone else.
And pet policies do not apply to service animals. You may have to provide documentation to your landlord that they are, in fact, registered as a service animal, but they cannot inquire about you or your disability.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from questioning religious practices. Even an offhand invitation to a church social could be constituted as a roundabout way of favoring one religion over another. Any questioning that brushes up against religion is illegal.