Ban-the-box type regulations may impact Detroit rental applications and might be the first step in a wave of change that could significantly alter how the question of criminal history is handled in housing. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: “Changes in how applications are managed and what preliminary questions, such as ones concerning criminal history, are utilized has revolutionized the pre-employment hiring process in many municipalities across the country and, now, these changes may be coming to rental applications.”
Change is a constant, and change continues to affect how criminal background records are used in application vetting. Pre-employment background screening, in some municipalities, employers are limited as to how they utilize criminal records as part of the vetting process. These Ban-the-Box laws are felt necessary to create a fairer hiring process by eliminating the potential of bias and discrimination from interfering with the process.
Almeida adds: “Viable housing goes a long way in defeating recidivism, as does gainful employment. Ban-the-box laws are designed to assist in creating a fair hiring environment. The same may hold true in the housing market.”
From CaseyGrants.org (Oct. 14,19):
Nearly all rental applications ask about criminal records. According to the FBI, 73.5 million Americans have a criminal record – defined as having a felony arrest. Landlords are known to consider felony and misdemeanor convictions, charges and arrests. (1)
And Detroit, Michigan may be leading the country in banning the question of criminal history on housing applications.
From the Detroit Free Press (Nov. 01, 19):
Giving more people a chance is the intention of a new ordinance in Detroit that “bans the box” asking about criminal history from most rental applications, preventing landlords from immediately disqualifying prospective tenants because of their convictions. (2)
A “Ban on the Box” in Detroit would affect a great many people and could create opportunity in housing for those that had been challenged with a criminal record.
From the Detroit Free Press (Nov. 01, 19):
Formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public, according to a 2018 report by the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative. People of color, women, those incarcerated more than once, and people recently released from prison are the most impacted. (3)
Tenant screening that should be done in a fair and equitable manner, one that does not discriminant
“Ultimately,” Almeida states, “a best practice remains for landlords and/or property managers to work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency such as TenantScreeningUSA.com in order to remain fully compliant with existing law, as well as potential and laws that could greatly affect tenant screening.”
TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full-service tenant screening for landlords and property managers of any size and can greatly assist in remaining fully compliant with all existing law governing tenant screening. With a highly trained and experienced staff, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide help to landlords and property managers with all their tenant screening needs.
Notes:
(1) caseygrants.org/evn/desmond-meade-made-history-but-housing-is-still-out-of-reach/
(2) freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/11/01/detroit-rental-application-ordinance-criminal-records/3851517002/
(3) ibid.
