Are landlords allowed to require a co-signer for rental units in compliance with Fair Housing Law?

Under the Fair Housing Law in California, landlords are allowed to require a co-signer for rental units. However, there are certain restrictions in place that ensure that potential renters are not denied housing based on their race, religion, gender, or any other protected status. When a landlord requires a co-signer, they must ensure that they are not discriminating against potential renters on any of the protected bases. This means that if they are requiring a co-signer, they must require it of everyone who applies, regardless of their race, etc. Additionally, landlords are not allowed to require a co-signer of certain greater frequency or severity of certain protected classes over others. For example, if a landlord requires a co-signer for two applicants, and one applicant is of a certain race and the other is not, the landlord cannot require the co-signer more of one than the other. It is important to note, however, that while landlords may require a co-signer, they must not use the process to discriminate against potential renters. If a landlord has a policy of requiring all applicants to have a co-signer, they must ensure that it is fairly applied to all potential renters, regardless of their protected statuses.

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