The Fair Housing Act (FHA) has reached its 50th anniversary and occurrences of discrimination are still plaguing the current housing market. This benchmark should be a reminder to landlords, property managers and owners that remaining compliant with the FHA is still a top priority.
Fifty years ago on April 11, 1968 President Lyndon Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act , an action designed to eliminate discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, and national origin and later expanded to cover sex, familial status, handicap, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. journalstandard.com/news/20180407/celebrating-50-years-of-fair-housing-act?start=2
In light of the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act all landlords and property managers should take the time to review current tenant screening and housing policies in order to stay fully compliant with the FHA and other related laws governing renting and tenant background checks.
The FHA and its ground breaking effort to eliminate discrimination in housing both for renters and buyers still has not achieved its goals. The Fair Housing Act was passed to protect at-risk classes in their efforts to rent and buy housing fairly and without discrimination; and should immediately remind landlords and property managers to review all existing tenant screening policies.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, and as expanded in subsequent years, is a tool used to enforce against discrimination in housing, both rental and purchase.
From JournalStandard.com (Apr 07 18):
This legislation has made it illegal to discriminate against anyone in a protected class when it comes to housing. This law applies to renting as well as purchasing housing. It is also illegal to refuse to rent to someone because of discrimination and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has very stiff penalties for violations. You can be fined up to $16,000 for a first offense and upward of $100,000 for additional offenses. These violations are extremely serious and the government has zero tolerance for such discrimination. ibid
Over the last fifty years the Fair Housing Act has accomplished a great deal but there is always room for improvement.
From OzarkFirst.com (Apr 05, 18):
“50 years is a long time, and while there’s been a lot of progress,” … “there is always so much more to do. And I think this is a good time to pause and say, yes we’ve done well, but we can still do much better.” ozarksfirst.com/news/celebrating-50th-anniversary-of-the-fair-housing-act/1103533834
Anniversaries such as the 50th for the Fair Housing Act are great reminders to landlords to insure all policies are and continue to be fully compliant with law. Utilizing a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency continues to be a best practice in order to remain fully compliant.
Across the country different cities and states are using the month of April as a way to remind citizens of housing rights.
From the Sentinel-Tribune of Bowling Green, Ohio (Apr. 04, 18):
The city of Bowling Green supports fair housing efforts to eliminate discrimination in housing by providing education to seekers of housing, rental property owners/managers and others regarding state and federal fair housing laws; monitors local advertising for potential fair housing violations; and reports violations of the fair housing acts to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. sent-trib.com/news/local/april-is-national-fair-housing-month/article_f89d4ec3-f5c3-5049-9c0f-d66096f79a52.html
Landlords and property managers should use the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act as a reminder to insure tenant screening policies are fully compliant and as a means to avoid potential penalty.
Over the past 50 years it has become clear as a nation that the idea of discrimination when it comes to an essential part of life like housing needs to be eliminated. Citizens and legal residents of this country need a place to live and being turned away due to some form of discrimination is not acceptable and laws such as the FHA will continue to be enforced until the day comes when discrimination in the housing arena has been abolished, a lofty goal but well worth the effort.
To learn more about the relevance of the 50 anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and why landlords and property managers should take this time to review their current tenant selection policies and procedures as well as point out discrimination in the housing market that still exists read recent TenantScreeningUSA.com press release: April Marks 50 Years of Fair Housing Act & Should Remind Landlords to Remain Compliant, Opines TenantScreeningUSA.com