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

Yes, landlords are allowed to require prospective tenants to provide references under Fair Housing Law in Virginia. However, they must do so in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. The Fair Housing Law protects people from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. Discrimination means treating people differently because of those protected characteristics. Landlords must use the same criteria to evaluate all tenants, regardless of their protected characteristics. For example, they should require references from all applicants, and not just from those that appear to be from a particular racial or religious group. The reference requirements should be the same for all applicants as well - such as requiring a certain number of references, and accepting only certain types of references. In addition, landlords must allow reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities. This may include waiving certain requirements, such as a certain number of references. Finally, landlords must be aware of any applicable local or national laws in their area. For example, in Virginia, landlords must also comply with the Virginia Fair Housing Law which prohibits them from discriminating against prospective tenants. In summary, yes, landlords are allowed to require prospective tenants to provide references under Fair Housing Law in Virginia. However, they must do so in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, as outlined by the Fair Housing Law and any applicable local or national laws.

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

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