Are landlords allowed to require a minimum credit score in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

In California, landlords are technically allowed to require a minimum credit score in accordance with Fair Housing Law, but there are limits to the specifics they require. According to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, landlords may not automatically reject applicants with a low credit score. This means that they must take into account other portions of the application that may influence a decision, such as rental history, income, and any other reasonable criteria. In addition, landlords cannot create a blanket policy that only considers an applicant’s credit score; instead, they have to fairly weigh the other factors. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing also specifies that landlords cannot require a credit score of a specific number. Any criteria that the landlord uses to determine the tenant’s eligibility must be applied consistently and objectively to all applicants. In other words, they must select the same criteria and use it fairly for each applicant. Ultimately, landlords can require a minimum credit score in accordance with the Fair Housing Law, but they must be careful to fairly assess all applicants. They must also ensure that their criteria is applied equally to all applicants and that they are not relying solely upon a credit score when making decisions.

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Are landlords allowed to require a minimum credit score in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

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