(this is the next in a series of posts describing best practice property management techniques for minimizing eviction through effective tenant screening)
As I mentioned in the last post on evictions, carefully developing a written plan, and following it every time without exception, will go a long way toward keeping the Fair Housing enforcement people from knocking at your door.
Documenting how decisions are made when determining whether or not to rent to someone is vital in the defense of a Fair Housing claim. Most tenant selection plans and tenant screening take into consideration rental or housing history, income/employment stability and credit history or credit score (either performed in-house or outsourced). Whatever plan includes, make sure to document it.
Regardless of your plan, the most important criteria for fairness and following Fair Housing guidelines is to consistently apply the same criteria to each applicant’s background information. Many persons in housing have no intention to discriminate for illegal reasons but sometimes fall into a gray area when they inconsistently make decisions based on factors such as how they “feel” about someone.
Clearly spelling out how an applicant is evaluated and then following the same process on each and every application is the best practice. This approach will generally deliver the most effective tenant screening and protect the property manager from Fair Housing claims.