Are there any restrictions on the types of documents landlords are allowed to request from tenants under Fair Housing Law?

Yes, there are restrictions on the types of documents landlords are allowed to request from tenants under Fair Housing Law in Delaware. According to the Delaware Department of Justice, landlords must only ask for documents that are necessary to decide whether to rent the unit to the tenant and to protect their interests. They cannot ask for documents that are not needed for either purpose. Landlords are not allowed to ask for documents that indicate a tenant’s national origin, race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. They cannot ask for documents such as a passport or birth certificate that would contain this information. They should also avoid asking questions that indicate any of those characteristics, such as those related to a tenant’s religious practices. Landlords are also restricted from asking a tenant to pay for a personal credit report. Landlords are only allowed to ask for a copy of a tenant’s credit report if they are required to obtain it by law. Additionally, landlords must not require an applicant to give his or her Social Security number unless the law requires it. They also must not take any action based on the results of a credit check if the credit check has not been separately authorized by the tenant. In summary, Fair Housing Law in Delaware place restrictions on the types of documents landlords are allowed to request from tenants. These restrictions exist to protect the tenant’s rights and to ensure that landlords are not receiving or asking for information that could be used to discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics.

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