Do rental applicants have to meet certain criteria under Fair Housing Law?

Yes, rental applicants have to meet certain criteria under Fair Housing Law in Virginia. The law, which is based on the federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits landlords from discriminating against applicants and tenants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, family status, or elderliness. In order to comply with the law, landlords must treat all applicants equally and must use specific criteria when evaluating applicants’ qualifications. This includes but is not limited to measures such as a credit check, rental history, and income verification. Landlords may also require a minimum income or credit score for approval, but if they do so, the requirements must be applied equally to all applicants. In addition, under the Virginia Fair Housing Law, landlords may not require a higher security deposit from certain prospective tenants based on their race, color, sex, disability, or other legally covered characteristics. Landlords must also provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, such as allowing for service animals or making certain modifications to the property. The Virginia Fair Housing Law is in place to ensure that all applicants are treated equally and with respect. Prospective tenants should be aware of their rights under the law and should not be discriminated against based on any of the aforementioned criteria.

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