Just A Landlord

There as been a lot of discussion on and off the ApartmentAssoc@YahooGroups.com regarding screening criteria, whether it is necessary to have a written criteria and should you provide that criteria to prospective tenants.

Fair housing is a complex set of laws.  Even if you absolutely follow the rules and their intentions you can find yourself “defending your life” so to speak.  Better the records and documentation, the better you will be able to ward off false allegations.

Here is our personal experience with HUD Fair Housing:

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Attorney Tristan Pettit over at Landlord Tenant Law Blog has opened a discussion on the need for a written screening criteria.

I wholeheartedly agree that this is import on a number of levels.  First, if you have a well written criteria and follow it with all applicants you will protect yourself from Fair Housing claims.  Secondly, if you have a well written criteria you are less likely to bend your rules and end up with a tenant that won’t work out.

Remember that every owner needs to develop their own criteria to meet their own needs. A copy of ours is attached below.

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