5 Fair Housing Guidelines Every Landlord Needs to Know
Dustin Edwards • June 4, 2021
Tips to Help You Evaluate Your Applicants Fairly
When reviewing rental applications for Long Beach properties, there are a variety of fair housing guidelines to consider. Far too often landlords fail to evaluate fair to consider the rules and regulations that govern rental properties. In 2019 alone, almost 2,000 housing discrimination complaints were filed in California. Fortunately, the following tips can provide you with some insight into the policies related to fair housing.
1. Discrimination
- Per the Federal Fair Housing Act
and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, you cannot discriminate against tenants based on race, color, national origin, immigration status, first language, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, familial status, source of income, and/or military status. Actions that fall under the umbrella of discrimination include refusing to rent, setting different rental agreements, falsely claiming your rental is unavailable, charging a higher rent fee, and harassing a tenet.
2. Sexual Harassment
- Under the aforementioned Federal Fair Housing Act, sexual harassment is considered a form of sex discrimination and illegal. Examples of sexual harassment in housing include quid pro quo and hostile environment.
- Quid Pro Quo - requesting any form of sexual behavior from a rental applicant as a requirement for becoming a tenant, or evicting a tenant after they refuse to engage in any form of sexual behavior.
- Hostile Environment - subjecting a rental applicant to unwelcome sexual behavior that interferes with the sale, such as inappropriate touching or obscene comments.
3. Reasonable Accommodation
- Tenants with disabilities that affect their mobility, vision, and/or hearing are entitled to request reasonable accommodations to the rules, practices, and infrastructure of the rental. However, these modifications must be within reason. For example, installing handlebars in a bathroom or implementing a ramp are acceptable additions that provide equal opportunity to tenants who do not have a complete range of motion.
4. Service Animals
- You cannot institute a blanket ban against service animals or individuals with service animals, as all tenants are permitted to own service animals. To determine if a tenant’s animal is a service animal, you may only ask the following questions: 1. “Are you an individual with a disability?” and 2. “What is the disability-related task the animal has been trained to perform?” Additionally, you may not charge extra fees for tenants with service animals.
5. Criminal History
- Though California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act does not explicitly protect tenants from discrimination based on criminal history, it does limit your use of criminal history when reviewing a rental applicant. Such as, you cannot use criminal history to deliberately exclude tenants based on race or only run criminal history checks on racial minorities. Even advertising a blanket ban against tenants with criminal history goes against California law. That being said, you can check the criminal history of a potential tenant and generally deny their rental application if they were successfully convicted of a crime that poses a danger to employees, other tenants, and/or the rental itself.
With several guidelines surrounding rental applications, it is important to understand the factors you can deny potential tenants for. The following are all legal reasons to reject rental applications.
3 Reasons You Could Reject Tenants
- Poor credit scores - Just remember to evaluate each tenant application by the same "poor" credit scores to show you are treating each applicant fairly.
- Negative references from prior landlords - Ask the same questions of each prior landlord to ensure you are taking the same approach to each applicant's application.
- Known history of paying rent late - Have a rule defined (i.e. 3 number of late pays in a given year) to help you evaluate each applicant by the same rules.
Understanding fair housing guidelines can be complicated but is necessary to effectively process rental applications. Finding a property management company that you feel comfortable with can ensure you follow these guidelines accordingly. If you would like assistance with fair housing guidelines, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247.
Additional Fair Housing Guidelines
Should you wish to explore state and federal guidelines deeper we encourage you to visit the links below.
Share this post
How Long Beach property management companies market rental properties: pricing, professional listings, multi-platform exposure, fast responses, and screening.
One of the most important steps in successful rental property management is tenant screening. While marketing attracts applicants and leasing fills vacancies, the screening process determines whether a tenant will be reliable, respectful of the property, and consistent with rent payments. For Long Beach property owners, proper tenant screening can mean the difference between stable rental income and ongoing management problems. Professional property management companies in Long Beach use structured screening procedures to evaluate applicants carefully while remaining compliant with fair housing regulations. A strong screening process protects your property, your income, and your long-term investment. Why Tenant Screening Matters Tenant screening is designed to reduce risk before a lease is signed by evaluating applicant reliability. When landlords skip or rush this process, they increase the likelihood of avoidable issues. These may include late or missed rent payments , lease violations, or property damage. Additional risks include neighbor complaints and costly eviction proceedings. Replacing a problematic tenant can be expensive and time-consuming. Between lost rent, repairs, and vacancy periods , a single bad tenant placement can cost thousands of dollars. Professional rental property management prioritizes careful screening because prevention is far easier than resolving problems later. The Tenant Application Process The screening process begins with a rental application. A thorough application collects information needed to evaluate whether an applicant meets the property's rental criteria . Applications typically request: Personal identification information Employment and income details Rental history References from previous landlords Authorization for credit and background checks Property managers review this information to ensure the applicant meets established qualification standards. Consistency is critical; property management companies in Long Beach must evaluate applicants using the same criteria to remain compliant with fair housing laws. Credit History Evaluation Credit history is one of the most common factors considered during tenant screening because it reflects financial reliability. A credit report provides insight into an applicant's behavior over time. This includes payment history, outstanding debts, and collections accounts. It also shows credit utilization, which helps assess overall risk. While a credit score alone does not determine whether someone will be a good tenant, it helps identify patterns of financial responsibility. Professional Long Beach property management services evaluate credit reports carefully while also considering income stability and rental history. Some applicants with lower credit scores may still qualify if they demonstrate strong income and a reliable rental record. Income Verification and Affordability One of the most important indicators of whether a tenant can consistently pay rent is income stability. Property managers verify income to ensure that applicants can reasonably afford the monthly rent. A common guideline is that tenants should earn at least two-and-a-half to three times the monthly rent in gross income. Income verification may include reviewing: Recent pay stubs Employment verification Bank statements Tax returns for self-employed applicants This step helps ensure the tenant's financial situation supports consistent rent payments. Professional property management uses income verification to reduce the risk of late rent or financial hardship. Rental History and Previous Landlord References Past rental behavior is often one of the best indicators of future tenant behavior. Property managers typically contact previous landlords to verify information such as: Payment history Lease compliance Property condition upon move-out Whether the landlord would rent to the tenant again A strong rental history suggests the applicant understands tenant responsibilities and has demonstrated reliability in the past. Experienced property managers in Long Beach California pay close attention to rental history because it can reveal patterns that credit reports alone may not show. Background Screening and Compliance Background screening may also be part of the tenant evaluation process. This can include criminal history checks conducted in compliance with fair housing regulations. It is important that background screening is performed consistently and in accordance with local and state laws. California and many cities have regulations governing how criminal records can be considered in rental decisions. Professional property management companies in Long Beach stay current on these regulations to ensure that screening practices remain compliant. This protects property owners from potential legal risks related to discriminatory screening practices. Establishing Clear Rental Criteria Before screening applicants, property managers establish clear rental criteria. These criteria outline the minimum standards applicants must meet to qualify for the property. Typical criteria may address: Minimum income requirements Credit history expectations Rental history standards Occupancy limits By establishing criteria in advance, property managers ensure that all applicants are evaluated fairly and consistently. Clear criteria also help set expectations for applicants and streamline the approval process. The Importance of Fair Housing Compliance Tenant screening must always comply with federal, state, and local fair housing laws . Landlords cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected categories under California law. Professional property management in Long Beach California includes careful adherence to fair housing regulations throughout the screening process. Consistent procedures help ensure compliance while protecting property owners from legal exposure. Why Professional Tenant Screening Matters Tenant screening requires experience, attention to detail, and knowledge of legal guidelines. Many landlords underestimate how complex the process can be. Evaluating applications while maintaining compliance with fair housing laws and local regulations requires careful procedures. A property management company in Long Beach brings established systems and experience to the screening process. This helps property owners avoid common mistakes while improving the chances of placing the best tenants for their rental . When screening is handled professionally, landlords can feel more confident that their rental property is in good hands. The Long-Term Value of Careful Tenant Placement A good tenant can make rental ownership significantly easier. Responsible tenants pay rent on time, maintain the property, and communicate effectively when maintenance issues arise. Careful screening increases the likelihood of finding tenants who will remain in the property long-term. Long-term tenants reduce turnover costs , minimize vacancy periods, and create more stable rental income. Professional property management companies understand that tenant placement is one of the most important decisions in the entire rental process. How Beach Cities Management Screens Tenants At Beach Cities Management, our rental property management in Long Beach includes a structured tenant screening process designed to protect both property owners and tenants. Our screening procedures include: Comprehensive rental applications Credit and income verification Rental history checks Fair housing compliant evaluation standards Our goal is to place qualified tenants who will respect the property and maintain consistent rent payments. Ready for Professional Tenant Screening and Leasing? If you want help leasing and managing your rental property, professional Long Beach property management can simplify the process and reduce risk. Apply today through our **Owner Application** . Let Beach Cities Management handle tenant screening, leasing, and property management so you can focus on building long-term investment success.
How a well-written lease protects Long Beach landlords and tenants, what it must include, and how professional property management keeps leases compliant.
