What are the obligations of landlords when it comes to Fair Housing Law?
When it comes to the Fair Housing Law in Michigan, landlords have certain obligations. As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that you and your property comply with federal and state fair housing laws. This means that you must refrain from discriminating against potential tenants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. In terms of renting, it is illegal to deny someone housing based on their protected class, to set different rental rates for different people, to steer a prospective tenant away from a certain neighborhood, and to advertise for tenants in a way that could be seen as discriminatory. In terms of maintenance, landlords must also provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. This means allowing someone with a disability to make reasonable modifications to the premises at their own expense. The Fair Housing Law also obligates landlords to provide a basic level of habitable living conditions, including heat, hot water, and adequate sanitation and plumbing facilities. It is important to remember that these obligations are taken seriously by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and that if any of the Fair Housing laws are violated, landlords face hefty fines and potentially criminal charges. Therefore, it is important to know and abide by the Fair Housing Law in order to avoid legal problems.
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