How can landlords and property owners ensure they are in compliance with Fair Housing Law?

Landlords and property owners in Michigan are legally required to adhere to the state’s Fair Housing Law. The law protects tenants from discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or familial status. To ensure they are in compliance with Fair Housing Law, landlords and property owners should follow a few simple steps. First, all advertisements and listings must be free of discriminatory language. This means avoiding terms such as “No children allowed” or “Perfect for a single person.” It is also important to keep an eye out for discriminatory practices when reviewing applications, such as asking applicants about their religious beliefs or requiring additional documents from certain individuals. Second, landlords and property owners should be aware of “steering” and “blockbusting.” Steering is the practice of directing tenants to certain areas of a property based on their race or other protected characteristics. Blockbusting is the practice of convincing homeowners to sell their property by creating a false sense of panic in a neighborhood. Both practices are illegal. Finally, it is important to keep tenant files up-to-date and organized. This can help prevent discrimination claims by ensuring that all applicants are treated equally and fairly. By following these steps, landlords and property owners in Michigan can ensure that they remain in compliance with Fair Housing Law.

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How can landlords and property owners ensure they are in compliance with Fair Housing Law?

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