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 a landlord can request from tenants under Fair Housing Law in Washington. Generally, landlords are not allowed to inquire about the tenant’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, existence of a disability, or if a child will be living in the residence. Landlords may inquire about a tenant’s source of income or whether the tenant has filed for bankruptcy, but only for financial-related purposes. Additionally, landlords cannot require that rental applications include information that would indicate any of the prohibited categories including forms of identification such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or driver’s license numbers. Finally, landlords may not require tenants to provide additional documents or information beyond what is necessary to establish that they are financially able to rent the unit. In any case, landlords should be careful not to run afoul of Fair Housing Law in Washington and all tenants should be treated fairly and equally when it comes to applying for a rental property. If a landlord appears to be discriminating in any way, the tenant may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development or the Washington State Human Rights Commission.

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

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