This biweekly sponsored column is written by the experts at Gordon James Realty, a local property management firm that specializes in residential real estate, commercial real estate and home owner associations. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that protects tenants and prospective tenants from illegal housing discrimination. However, many states — and the District of Columbia — have their own fair housing rules. These tend to expand on the federal law, guaranteeing additional rights to current and potential renters or homeowners.
The Fair Housing Act covers a few broad categories. For example, you can’t not rent a property to someone simply because they have a disability. It seems obvious, but problems can arise when the potential tenant has a service animal. Is it discrimination to not allow that person to rent if you have a no-pets policy? It is.
Other basic categories include:
- Race
- Religion
- Color
- National origin
- Disability
- Sex (gender or sexual harassment)
- Family status
D.C.’s rules build upon the seven. To comply with the District’s fair housing rules, remember these 11 areas:
- Age
- Marital status
- Family responsibilities
- Victim of an intra-family offense (domestic violence)
- Personal appearance
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity or expression
- Matriculation
- Political affiliation
- Source of income
- Place of residence or business of any individual
In addition to outright discrimination, be aware that “steering” and “blockbusting” are equally illegal. That means you can’t “nudge” people toward another property or neighborhood because of a personal preference, or advertise in order to attract tenants from a particular demographic.
Blockbusting isn’t as common these days, but you can still find pockets of it here and there. It’s the practice of introducing minority homeowners into previously all-white neighborhoods in order to profit from prejudice-driven market instability.
It may be easy to avoid most of those areas, but you eventually will run into a tenant who causes a pause. We suggest developing a qualifying checklist or working with a property management company that uses one. It puts all your tenants on equal footing. More importantly, it’ll keep you in compliance with fair housing rules in Washington, D.C.
If you would like property management help, contact us here.
Recent Stories
Business Awards Finalists — “The Arlington Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists in its 38th annual Arlington Best Business Awards, with the honors to be bestowed next month.” [Gazette…
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles were published earlier today…
All lanes of northbound I-395 were blocked at Glebe Road due to a fatal motorcycle crash.
Federal authorities will investigate a near collision on the ground at Reagan National Airport, ARLnow has learned. The incident happened around 7:40 a.m. today (Thursday). “An air traffic controller instructed…
Unlike our competitors, Well-Paid Maids doesn’t clean your home with harsh chemicals. Instead, we handpick cleaning products rated “safest” by the Environmental Working Group, the leading rating organization regarding product safety.
The reason is threefold.
First, using safe cleaning products ensures toxic chemicals won’t leak into waterways or harm wildlife if disposed of improperly.
Second, it’s better for you and your family. Fragrant chemicals in surface cleaners can expose you to a similar amount of pollutant particles as a busy city road, New Scientist reported.
Northern Virginia Family Practice (NVFP), known for its comprehensive concierge healthcare, is thrilled to introduce Mark Sullivan, MD as the newest member of its family medicine team.
Dr. Sullivan brings a wealth of experience in family medicine, underpinned by a passion for delivering personalized, patient-centered care. He has a distinguished background in managing various medical conditions, emphasizing preventive care, health education and chronic disease management. Dr. Sullivan is adept at employing the latest medical research and technologies to enhance patient outcomes.
Beyond his medical expertise, Dr. Sullivan is committed to the well-being of his community, demonstrating this through his active engagement in local health initiatives and educational programs. His approach to medicine is holistic, focusing on integrating physical, mental and emotional health and patient education to achieve optimal patient wellness.
Dr. Sullivan is now accepting new patients at their newly established Arlington office at 2445 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA, 22206. The office, known for its patient-friendly amenities and state-of-the-art medical facilities, continues to provide the exceptional, personalized care NVFP is known for in its newly upgraded Arlington location.
ACFCU’s Free Homebuying 101 Webinar: Steps to Getting Pre-Approved
Are you ready to jump into homeownership, or have you started considering it but don’t know where to start?
Financial preparation is key when thinking about purchasing your first home and the first step to getting pre-approved. Join ACFCU for
Sweeney Todd
A victim of a gross injustice that robbed him of his wife and child, Sweeney Todd sets about exacting a terrible revenge on society.
