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. (1) Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: “In light of the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act all landlords and property managers should review tenant screening and housing policies in order to stay fully compliant with the FHA and other related laws governing renting and tenant screening.”
April 11 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and its ground breaking effort to eliminate discrimination in housing both for renters and buyers. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: “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.(2)
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.” (3)
Almeida opines: “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.(4)
Almeida concludes: “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.”
TenantScreeningUSA.com is a third-party tenant screening company that can provide screening packages for landlords and property managers with property holdings large and small. A highly trained staff can assist in creating Tenant Screening packages that will keep landlords and property managers in compliance with current and potential laws and regulations.
Notes:
- journalstandard.com/news/20180407/celebrating-50-years-of-fair-housing-act?start=2
- ibid
- ozarksfirst.com/news/celebrating-50th-anniversary-of-the-fair-housing-act/1103533834
- sent-trib.com/news/local/april-is-national-fair-housing-month/article_f89d4ec3-f5c3-5049-9c0f-d66096f79a52.html
