Owner Update “Question of The Month”

Q: Should I advertise my units that I’m willing to place on TMHA’s Voucher program differently than other units?

A. All advertising you place for all your units must meet the fair housing guidelines (see the suggestions on the flip side of this newsletter and below). However, if you are advertising a unit where you are willing to work with a TMHA Voucher holder, you might note that in your ad with a simple phrase such as “Vouchers accepted.” We often see ads that say “Metro Approved,” which is a misnomer since TMHA will always have to re-approve any unit even though it may have been on our Voucher program in the past.

Remember that TMHA will list your vacant unit on our office’s “available unit” list. This is a list we give only to our searching Voucher holders. To get your unit on the list, simply call our office and tell us you have the available unit. We’ll ask the bedroom size, town where it is located and where prospective tenants should call for more information. Using our list puts your unit’s information into the hands of people approved for funding who are searching for a unit, and saves you advertising dollars.

In regard to advertising so that fair housing laws are not violated, the most important thing to remember is to factually describe the property – period. The biggest problems seem to come when the advertiser describes the property in terms of what he/she thinks the prospective tenant would want.

An example would be an ad for a second story unit and use of a description like “unsuitable for elderly or disabled tenants.” The owner may be thinking that the stairs would limit an elderly or disabled tenant from using the unit, but that decision is one that must be made by the tenant, not by the owner for them. A particularly spry elderly person or disabled person whose legs are fine may otherwise love the unit amenities and not be daunted by stairs.

Another common mistake is the unit with no yard that is advertised as being “not suitable for children.” Beware of this statement. A prospective tenant with children must have the right to look at the unit (and the no-yard) and make that decision. Maybe the tenant has a person with a yard who often cares for the children, and so not having the yard at home is not an issue.

A Good Rule of Thumb to remember is…...

1 .Use language, artwork and/or graphics or photography that are inclusive, not exclusive.

2. Ad copy should be used to describe the property - not the seller, the neighbors, the landlord or any “appropriate” buyers or tenants.

Penalties for Non-compliance: Fair housing violations are not only punishable under both state and federal law, but they can be very expensive. Persons who advertise the sale, rental or brokerage of housing must comply with the provisions of the Fair Housing Act and it’s subsequent amendments. Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. Regardless of your intent in placing an ad, individuals who feel discriminated against may file a complaint against you, your real estate agent, your broker, the advertising agency and the publisher of the newspaper or magazine where the ad appeared. If you are uncertain about the acceptability of an ad, you should consult with the publisher or your local fair housing agency prior to placing it. If you receive an official complaint, you should contact your attorney.

Fair housing should be practiced for several reasons. Most importantly, the promotion of non-discriminatory housing processes should be undertaken to provide fair housing opportunity to all members of the community. All persons are entitled to obtain housing of their choice regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status and handicap/disability.



Special Notice of TMHA Office Closing

The Tuscarawas Metropolitan Housing Authority office will be closed all day on Thursday, April 20th in order for staff to attend training. Please make note of this office closing date on your calendar.
 

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