As a Virginia landlord, you have to be updated with the laws relating to housing and make sure that your rental business remains legally compliant. The Fair Housing Law in Virginia does not only apply to buy houses but also to rental property owners who offer residential housing services.
We at Keyrenter Property Management Richmond, have put together an overview of the state and federal law.
What is Fair Housing?
The Virginia Fair Housing Law aims to provide individuals with equal housing opportunities. This act covers renters, buyers, and those who are applying for housing assistance, looking for resources to fund their housing, or even appraising their homes.
The federal Fair Housing Act essentially exists to provide guidance and advice to landlords, renters, buyers, and lenders on what is considered a fair or discriminatory housing practice.
Who Oversees Fair Housing?
This law is governed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development also known as HUD. It’s their duty to answer questions and handle complaints related to discriminating housing practices. They are experts on what is considered a fair or discriminatory housing practice and answer any questions you may have about fair housing rights and laws.
What are the Seven Protected Classes?
The following are the seven protected classes at the federal level:
Race
It’s illegal to reject an interested renter because of their race. Any terms used on your marketing materials that lead towards racial discrimination are also considered illegal under the act. It’s also discriminatory to ask questions regarding race during the tenant application or screening process.
Color
A landlord cannot prefer a tenant of specific color over another as it’s considered discriminatory if you based your approval on a person’s color. Instead, assess candidates on their ability to pay rent and take care of the premises.
National origin
A renter cannot choose their national origin so it is considered discriminatory to refuse tenants based on this characteristic. Establish a solid screening process and be consistent in following it regardless of the tenant’s protected class.
Religion
It’s illegal under the act to reject an applicant based on their religion. When marketing or screening tenants refrain from asking about their beliefs. The same principles apply when dealing with your existing tenants. You cannot treat certain tenants differently due to their religious beliefs.
Sex
It’s considered discriminatory to refuse to rent to a certain gender. Always make it a point to be fair with all interested tenants and base decisions on their ability to care for the rental by checking their credit score, proof of income, and rental history.
Familial Status
You cannot choose to rent to a childless couple over a family with little kids or even a pregnant woman. It is considered discriminatory to do so. You also cannot ask questions during the screening process about a person’s familial status.
Disability
As a Virginia landlord, you must refrain from discriminating against differently-abled renters. Landlords must allow some reasonable modifications to be made to the rental to accommodate disabled renters.
Fair Housing Act Exemptions
There are some exceptions to the Fair Housing Act. They include the following:
- Religious Organizations – Housing built and designed to cater to religious members are exempted from the Fair Housing Act.
- Private Club or Memberships – Clubs can deny housing to those who are non-members.
- Local Law Occupancy Standard – If there is a specific maximum occupancy set to your rental property, you may be able to limit occupancy.
- Owner-occupied Housing – If you live in one of the units of your property with a total of four units, you are exempted from the fair housing regulations.
Types of Housing Discrimination
As a Virginia residential landlord, you have to be aware of the two different types of discrimination:
- Intentional Discrimination – If a landlord intentionally refuses an applicant or treats them differently because of their physical attributes or characteristics that they have no control over like their national origin or race.
- Unintentional Discrimination – If your intention for refusing a renter or treating a tenant differently is because of reasons you thought would be advantageous for them but is considered discriminatory, this is called unintentional discrimination. This type of discrimination is subtle so be careful with how you treat tenants.
How to Provide Fair Housing
Virginia landlords can provide fair housing on the following:
- Advertising – Focus your marketing materials on the amenities and unique characteristics of the house rather than on the type of tenant you’re looking for.
- Answering Questions – Be honest when answering questions about the house and refrain from lying about housing availability.
- Pricing – Be fair when setting your rates and be consistent with your pricing. Do not charge higher rates for that certain tenant but not for others.
- Accepting Applications – You are required to accept all applications from interested and qualified applicants. Rank them based on their ability to pay and uphold tenant responsibilities. Ask for documents to prove this.
- Renting – Existing tenants must be treated fairly when handling conflicts and disputes. Always refer back to your lease agreement when enforcing house rules and always document requests and complaints.
- Screening – Do not include questions that lead to discriminating against the protected classes. Build your screening process and be consistent when following it.
Bottom Line
Under the Fair Housing Laws in Virginia, you must treat prospective and existing tenants equally. You also need to be aware of landlord-tenant laws, security deposit policies, early lease termination, and the legal eviction process. Consider hiring a property manager to assist you in staying legally compliant.
Here at Keyrenter Property Management Richmond, we would be happy to help you manage your rental property. We offer full-service property management solutions. Contact us today to learn more!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Laws change, and this post might not be updated at the time of your reading. Please contact us for any questions you have in regards to this content or any other aspect of your property management needs.