Are landlords allowed to screen tenants based on their ethnicity in violation of Fair Housing Law?

No, landlords are not allowed to screen tenants based on their ethnicity in violation of Fair Housing Law in Indiana. The Fair Housing Act of Indiana (Ind. Code § 32-31-1-1 et seq.) prohibits all housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, national origin, or ancestry. This applies to landlords renting residential units, or subleasing real estate. Therefore, screening tenants on the basis of any one of these characteristics (including ethnicity) is a violation of the law. In the state of Indiana, the Civil Rights Commission is the enforcement agency responsible for educating the public, investigating complaints of discrimination, and helping to provide resolution to any parties involved. If a landlord is found to be in violation of Fair Housing Law, they may be liable to pay damages, issue fines, or be subject to other legal penalties. In addition, landlords should be aware of state and/or local fair housing laws that go above and beyond the federal law. For example, in Indiana, it is illegal to discriminate based on source of income, and it is illegal to deny rental opportunities to people with criminal backgrounds. All in all, it is important for landlords to be aware of and familiar with Fair Housing Law in Indiana and to abide by the law when screening applicants for rental dwellings. Violating Fair Housing Law is a serious offense, and landlords should take all necessary steps to ensure compliance.

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Are landlords allowed to screen tenants based on their ethnicity in violation of Fair Housing Law?

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