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

No, landlords in Washington are not allowed to screen tenants based on their ethnicity in violation of Fair Housing Law. Fair Housing Law is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the rental, sale, or financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. This means that landlords may not use any aspect of a tenant’s ethnic background to deny them rental housing. Landlords may, however, utilize other factors to screen tenants, such as credit and criminal background checks. Landlords may also base their decisions on the tenant’s ability to pay rent, the tenant’s rental history, or their behavior and demeanor during the rental application process. It is important to note that Washington state law may offer additional protections beyond the federal law. For example, Washington has the Washington Law Against Discrimination which prohibits discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community. In conclusion, landlords in Washington are not allowed to screen tenants based on their ethnicity in violation of Fair Housing Law. Landlords may only use certain factors when screening tenants that are unrelated to ethnicity, such as credit and criminal background checks. Additionally, Washington state law may offer additional protections for certain marginalized groups.

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

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