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

In accordance with Fair Housing Law, landlords in Texas are not allowed to require a minimum credit score from potential tenants. This means that landlords cannot legally deny applicants solely based on their credit score. Under the Fair Housing Law, landlords may use a credit check to verify a potential tenant’s ability to pay rent, but they must allow for acceptable alternatives to a credit check. For example, if a tenant has an unacceptable credit score, they may submit other acceptable proof of financial means, such as a letter from their employer attesting to their income or bank statements showing savings. Additionally, Fair Housing Law protects tenants from any adverse action taken by a landlord due to negative credit or other financial information obtained through a credit check. This means that if a landlord obtains information from a tenant’s credit report, they must treat every tenant the same regardless of their credit score. Ultimately, Texas landlords are not allowed to include a minimum credit score in their tenant application process when dealing with Fair Housing Law. Under this law, landlords must allow for acceptable alternatives to a credit check to help ensure that all tenants have equal access to housing and are not discriminated against based on their credit score.

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