Understanding fair housing practices are incredibly important when you manage or own a rental property. In New Hampshire, there are many ways in which fair housing laws can impact your business. Understanding how fair housing works can help you to protect your business from devastating legal consequences.
Fair Housing Laws
Fair Housing laws are designed to prevent discrimination when it comes to housing and employment. These laws prohibit landlords from denying tenancy based on sex, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, and a variety of other factors. It is important to understand the fair housing laws in New Hampshire to ensure that you don’t accidentally violate these laws.
How to Protect Your Business
First and foremost, you should familiarize yourself with the fair housing laws in New Hampshire. There are federal fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination in every state. These laws have a few exemptions, though which exemptions apply depends on the various states. One of the best ways to protect yourself from possible discrimination lawsuits is by creating a written set of standards that all of your tenants must meet. These may include things such as income, credit score, and other factors. When you have these requirements written down, it will help to keep all of your employees on the same page when it comes to your standards. In addition, it will allow you to prove that an applicant was denied for a permitted reason, rather than on a discriminatory basis.
Fair housing has a significant impact on the business of a property owner. Taking the steps to ensure that you are complying with fair housing laws is vital to protect your investment from detrimental legal issues. Here at the Keyrenter in New England, we offer a multitude of services to help keep your rental property business in compliance with all fair housing requirements.