Are landlords allowed to require prospective tenants to provide references under Fair Housing Law?

Under California Fair Housing Law, landlords are not allowed to require prospective tenants to provide references. This law protects tenants from discriminatory practices when applying for a rental unit. References can be seen as a way for landlords to discriminate against certain applicants, as it can be difficult to secure positive references from friends or family members for people who come from marginalized communities. The California Fair Housing Law prohibits rental discrimination, which includes the use of references as a screening criteria. The only time landlords can require applicants to provide references is when they are requesting references from professional landlords, rather than personal references. In other words, if a landlord requests references from a current or former employer, they may be allowed to do so. However, if the landlord is asking for personal references, such as from friends and family, they cannot require the applicant to provide these. In addition, landlord must also follow the Fair Housing Law when requesting a background check or credit report from prospective tenants. Landlords cannot use criminal records or credit scores to discriminate against applicants, and must treat everyone equally when making rental decisions. Overall, California Fair Housing Law prohibits landlords from requiring prospective tenants to provide references. Landlords must follow this law, and treat all applicants equally when making rental decisions.

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Are landlords allowed to require prospective tenants to provide references under Fair Housing Law?

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