Knowing Your Responsibilities as a Property Manager
As a property manager in Decatur, GA, it is important to understand your responsibilities under fair housing laws. These laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. It is illegal to deny housing to someone based on any of these factors, and it is important to be aware of the different ways in which discrimination can occur. Should you desire to discover more about the subject, we’ve got just the thing for you. Decatur ga property management companies, explore the external source filled with additional information and insights.
One of the most common ways discrimination occurs is through steering. Steering is the practice of directing individuals or families towards or away from certain properties based on protected characteristics. For example, refusing to show properties in predominantly white neighborhoods to African-American prospective tenants is a violation of fair housing laws. It is important to remain unbiased in your interactions with potential tenants and to provide equal access to all properties regardless of protected characteristics.
Advertising and Marketing
Another important aspect of fair housing as a property manager is advertising and marketing. It is important to ensure that any advertising or marketing materials do not discriminate against potential tenants based on protected characteristics. This means avoiding language that suggests a preference for certain groups and not highlighting certain characteristics of the property that might discourage certain groups from applying.
For example, advertising a property as “perfect for young professionals” may discourage families with children from applying, which is a violation of familial status protections. Additionally, not including pictures of children in marketing materials could be seen as discriminating against families with children. It is important to be aware of these types of potential violations and to make efforts to ensure that your advertising and marketing materials are inclusive of all potential tenants.
Application Process and Tenant Screening
The application process and tenant screening is another important area to consider when navigating fair housing laws as a property manager. The application process should be the same for all potential tenants regardless of protected characteristics. Additionally, the screening process should be consistent and objective. This means having clear criteria for tenant screening and avoiding any potentially subjective judgments based on protected characteristics.
For example, denying a tenant based on poor credit history may be permissible, but denying a tenant based on national origin or race, or any other protected characteristic, is not. It is important to ensure that your screening process is consistent and objective in order to avoid any accusations of discrimination.
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications
Finally, as a property manager it is important to be aware of reasonable accommodations and modifications. This means providing reasonable accommodations to tenants with disabilities and allowing for reasonable modifications to be made to the property to accommodate disabilities. This might include allowing for service animals in no-pet units or allowing for the installation of grab bars or wheelchair ramps.
It is essential to engage in an interactive process when working with tenants with disabilities and to make an effort to provide reasonable accommodations. Failure to do so could result in a violation of fair housing laws. Gain more knowledge about the subject on this external site we’ve chosen for you. www.atlantapropertymanagementsolutions.com, keep advancing in your learning journey!
Conclusion
Navigating fair housing laws as a property manager in Decatur, GA can be complex, but it is important to make efforts to remain unbiased and to ensure that all potential tenants are given equal opportunities to access housing. By understanding your responsibilities under fair housing laws and taking appropriate steps to remain compliant, you can avoid potential legal issues and support a diverse and inclusive community.
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