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How To Avoid Fair Housing Complaints When Renting Property!
April 17, 2021
How To Avoid Fair Housing Complaints When Renting Property!
Owning rental properties will be profitable when being leased by tenants; empty units will not make any money. The local rental market is booming for many reasons, including the always-present student tenants. Yet some properties remain harder to fill, perhaps creating certain leasing situations that should be avoided. As part of the leasing process, attorneys in Bryan Texas alert owners that interviewing prospective tenants must be done within compliance of the Fair Housing Act to avoid any accusations of discrimination. Read the information presented below about applicable equal housing regulations and fair housing laws to avoid any problems.
Fair Housing Laws
The Federal Fair Housing Act exists to prevent discrimination against any individual who may be interested in renting a dwelling that has been made available to the public for rent. It protects against race, sex, and age discrimination and it prevents singling out handicapped or disabled individuals as well as any religious affiliation. It basically says that rental cannot be refused to anyone based on such adverse criteria. There are many more housing laws that must be recognized as well, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Civil Rights Act among others. There are laws at both federal and state levels, so it is important for property owners to consult with attorneys in Bryan TX who know these laws and their meaning.
Applicant Screening
The thorough screening of applicants is an important part of any property rental business – and yet it is the easiest one to cause discrimination problems. On one hand, no landlord wants to rent a unit to a tenant who will create problems; however, it is illegal to assume that potential renters can be classified by belonging to a certain group of individuals that should not be considered. So it is essential for those owning rental property to have a rental application that asks only the legally allowed questions that could be pertinent and avoid those that are deemed discriminatory by fair housing laws.
Attorneys in Bryan TX who help clients handle rental properties advise that applications may include rules of occupancy and include questions about prior evictions, credit and financial history, reason for leaving current living quarters, and others along those lines. Personal request about substance use, mental health, family status including marriage status, and other such ones are considered discriminatory.
Since application screening is such an important part of finding a good tenant, the best recommendation is to work with Bryan attorneys when creating an initial application, rules of occupation, and rental contract – and then use only those forms when seeking new tenants. If any applicant or resident requests a change to the rules of occupancy or any other detail outlined in the application or contract, it is recommended to return to a lawyer for help in correctly modifying paperwork so it legally reflects changes in a way that protects both parties.
Showing Property, Rules of Occupancy, and Evictions
Though all of the above topics pertain to different parts of a landlord-tenant relationship, per the advice of Bryan TX attorneys they should always be handled to adhere to Fair Housing laws. In a nutshell, it is never legal to provide different treatment to any person for any reason; this applies to showing a property and its different features, creating and/or changing rules to suit certain tenants, or having to evict tenants.
Any person who feels that discrimination has happened even in the simplest way can file a Fair Housing complaint; this makes it essential to follow the same procedures with every applicant, every accepted tenant, and every eviction as the occasion arises. Landlords who do this will then remain protected by law for actual tenant issues and even evictions that are based solely on non-discriminatory concerns.
To prevent any financially damaging legal headaches or negatively impact a landlord's reputation and ability to lease properties, attorneys in Bryan Texas advise that every property owner have a thorough knowledge of Fair Housing law. Seeking the services of an attorney in Bryan who is familiar with this information could be the best way for a rental property owner to avoid any complaints of discrimination in the rental process.
Want to Avoid Discrimination Complaints As A Landlord?
Hoelscher, Lipsey, Elmore, Poole & Turnbill, P.C. – Attorneys at Law Can Help You!
In the realm of real estate transactions, there is nothing more confusing to most people than two commonly used terms: title and deed. Toss in the use of title insurance as part of a property sale transaction and the picture only becomes less clear about the difference between title and deed. Real estate lawyers in Bryan TX advise that there are different types of deeds, each one serving a different purpose in determining the legal ownership of property; however, there is only one property title that shows legal ownership.
Buying a house is part of the American dream, an achievement that people work toward for years. After finding the right property, the buying process can sometimes turn that dream into a nightmare when there are conflicts between seller and buyer. To appease both sides and allow the sale of a home to be finalized, real estate attorneys in Bryan Texas are an essential part of the procedure. Enlisting the services of an experienced lawyer can make the difference between buyers actually realizing the dream of owning a home – or having to pass it by and continue the search.
It is commonly understood what the purpose of a Last Will and Testament does, especially if there are assets to leave to family or friends. A living trust can be equally valuable, although it often takes the help of law firms in Bryan Texas to grasp the purpose of such a document. Both have similar functions but each is used somewhat differently. When planning an estate, it is important to learn the difference between these two documents to see how a living trust can offer current protection, while a will protects beneficiaries later on.
There are nearly 63 million Americans receiving disability payments because of being legally disabled and unable to work. Social Security disability is one of the benefits available to most U.S. citizens; however, the process involved to obtain this benefit can be difficult. Due to a number of fraudulent or unqualified claims, the process of applying for Social Security benefits for the disabled can be lengthy and confusing. This complexity is why many applicants seek the help of lawyers in Bryan Texas who are experienced with the process and can help clients receive a favorable outcome.
When someone sustains an injury that might have been caused by the actions of another person, lawsuits may become involved if settlement cannot otherwise be reached. Law firms in Bryan TX see many personal injury cases every year as these are some of the most common types of lawsuits currently being filed. Handling such a case involves more than just filing a complaint and convincing a judge and/or jury to award the injured party due compensation. Personal injury cases can be lengthy, complex, and exhausting to all parties involved, which makes it important to understand the process and what it means to anyone considering filing this type of complaint.
Despite a depressed housing market over the past few years, interest in buying second homes and investment properties has held its own. Real estate lawyers in Bryan Texas advise that while it is definitely a buyer’s market even with investment homes, it is important to know that the market continues to move. When is the right time to invest? Following are some suggestions for prospective buyers of vacation or investment homes to consider to help make such a decision.
Today’s weak economy has created difficult financial conditions for many individuals over the past few years. Jobs are being lost along with healthcare benefits which is putting even home living arrangements at risk. As bills stack up and the choice becomes keeping food on the table or paying bills, it is easy to understand how individuals and families can get into financial straits. For many people, bankruptcy seems as if it is a viable option when things get that bad; however, lawyers in Bryan Texas caution that it is important to understand how the process works and determine if it is the best option before filing for bankruptcy.
Civil law is a branch of the United States legal system by which non-criminal wrongdoings are judged. Lawyers in Bryan Texas who handle civil trial settings consider an action to be non-criminal if it is based on violations or offenses committed because of some problem in the interpretation of verbal disputes, contract disagreements, property ownership or damages, most family law, etc.
A last will and testament is a valuable document when correctly planned. It can alleviate many disagreements about money and property and help ensure that private wealth is divided as desired. Attorneys in College Station TX recommend that anyone without a will should execute one while there is plenty of time with the help of a good estate lawyer. It sounds easy to list valuables and designate who should receive them, yet the process is not that simple with a number of exclusions to handle and other rules about property distribution to consider.
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