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 Washington. This federal law was designed to prevent housing discrimination and to ensure everyone is offered equal access to housing, regardless of their characteristics. In Washington, protected classes include: race, color, national origin, sex, religion, family status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and military status. This means that landlords cannot discriminate against any of these protected classes when considering a rental applicant. Landlords may ask for an applicant’s name, address and other contact information, employment history, credit history, and may conduct a background check. However, landlords cannot ask questions about a person’s protected class status or use different criteria or standards when evaluating applicants from a protected class. Additionally, landlords must provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities to ensure their housing needs are met. If any of these criteria are not met, or a landlord denies or qualifies an applicant based on their protected class status, it could be considered a violation of the Fair Housing Law. Washington residents should be aware of their rights and report any suspected violations to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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

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