The Fair Housing Act, enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, was designed to eliminate discrimination in housing. Despite its passage over five decades ago, violations of fair housing principles persist. For property managers, compliance with these laws is not only a legal obligation but also a professional and ethical imperative. Failing to adhere to these standards can result in lawsuits, reputational damage, and substantial financial penalties.  We look at key aspects of fair housing laws that property managers must understand, highlighting common challenges and best practices for compliance.

Property managers, or rental owners who manage properties on their own, who fail to take the necessary precautions when screening tenants are asking for headaches and potentially long down time for their rental properties.  Cutting corners in this process is a nightmare waiting to happen which will only increase the amount of time one will spend in pursuit of quality long-term tenants and diminish overall return on investment for the portfolio.

Today, background check screening software available from a professional property manager can quickly and accurately paint the prospective tenant’s employment background, criminal record (if any), eviction record (if any), and credit history.  Without using a professional property manager to help in this process is like dancing on a tightrope which could lead to problems.