Are landlords allowed to deny rental applications based on a tenant’s criminal background in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

In accordance with Fair Housing Law, landlords in Virginia are not allowed to deny rental applications based on a tenant’s criminal background. Under this law, landlords must consider each applicant’s individual circumstances when making decisions about housing. The Virginia Fair Housing Law, the Virginia Fair Housing Board, and the Virginia Fair Housing Office are all dedicated to reducing discrimination or bias in housing based on the tenant’s race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, marital status, or familial status. This means that while a tenant may have a criminal background, if it does not interfere with their ability to be a good tenant, they are allowed to rent. To that end, landlords in Virginia must take into account the age of the tenant’s offense and the relevance of the conviction to the tenant’s current behavior. In addition, they are also legally required to provide an explanation to the tenant if their application was denied due to their criminal background. By enforcing Fair Housing Law, Virginia is dedicated to creating fair and equitable housing for all tenants, regardless of their background. This ensures that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing and is treated fairly.

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Are landlords allowed to deny rental applications based on a tenant’s criminal background in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

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