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Screening Tenants For Your Rental Unit
A landlord is entitled to be assured, within reason, that a
prospective tenant will be a desirable resident. The key to
avoiding problems with civil rights claims is to have routine
standards that are not discriminatory. Then, if an applicant
doesn't qualify, you can deny renting to them while showing that
you have applied the same standard to all your tenants,
including those assisted with a TMHA Voucher.
Make sure that your policies are clearly spelled out in written
form. Be willing to discuss these terms or have copies
available. Be sure that situations which will warrant an
exemption to your policy are also noted. In selecting tenants,
property owners and managers may use any criteria or guidelines
that do not discriminate against the Federal seven protected
classes listed below.
Race - Color - Religion - Gender - National origin - Familial
status - Mental or physical handicap.
Permissible selection criteria include the following valid
reasons for refusing to rent to someone:
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Won't provide you with proper identification
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Won't furnish you with references from previous landlord
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Fails to complete and sign application and/or lease
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Falsifies information on application or lease
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Has many unpaid bills, bad credit or history of late rent
payments
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Has pets and your written policy prohibits them. (Except seeing
eye or hearing assistance dogs )
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Has a history of evictions, unit damage or disturbing neighbors
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Is a minor with no responsible adult to co-sign
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Has a recent history of serious criminal activity including any
members of family included in lease.
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Inability to pay rent or security deposit
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Has too many people for the size of the unit. (Watch this one,
there is no well defined criterion for "overcrowding" that has
proven to uniformly endure a court challenge.)
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For more information call the local Fair Housing Consortia at
1-800-581-3247
TMHA Office Closings For The Holidays
With the Christmas season soon upon us, the TMHA office will
experience some closings in observance of the holidays.
They are as follows:
December 14th - 11:45 am - 2:00 pm
THMA Holiday Luncheon for staff, Board of Commissioners, and
Appointing Authorities
December 24th in observance of Christmas Day
December 31st in observance of New Year's Day
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