Are landlords allowed to charge an application fee in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

In accordance with Fair Housing Law, landlords are allowed to charge an application fee to tenants in Delaware. The amount of the application fee must be reasonable and customary to the local area. The fee must not be used to discriminate against potential tenants based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. In addition to being compliant with Fair Housing Law, the application fee must also comply with Delaware landlord-tenant laws. The tenant must be provided with written documentation of the expected fee before the process has started. The landlord must also provide a written estimate of the fee and must not surprise the tenant with additional fees for similar services. Landlords must keep careful records of application fees received and must report income from application fees on their taxes. Application fees are generally used to cover the cost of screening potential tenants. This includes running credit checks, contact information of references, and other costs associated with tenant screening. The fee must not exceed what is reasonably necessary to cover the cost of screening or be used as a way to discourage applicants. In short, landlords are allowed to charge application fees in Delaware in accordance with Fair Housing Laws. The fee must be reasonable and customary to the local area and cannot be used to discriminate against potential tenants. Landlords must also provide a written estimate of the fee and keep careful records of income from application fees.

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