Fair Housing laws are designed to prevent discrimination toward an individual when deciding to rent to them. It is crucial to understand the fair housing laws in California to ensure that you are adhering to these regulations. Failure to do so can result in being charged to rent to the individual, as well as potentially being forced to pay punitive damages. Here are a few things you need to know about the fair housing laws in California.
Federal Law vs. California Law
In general, federal law prohibits discrimination on many different factors. California law further expands these factors. Federal law includes discrimination based on color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, race, and disability. California law further expands this by also prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, source of income, age, marital status, gender identity, arbitrary characteristics, gender expression, and more.
How to Protect your Business
It is vital to ensure that you only deny applicants based on set standards, not due to a discriminatory practice. Set written guidelines to ensure that you can prove that an applicant was denied based on, say, their income, rather than their race. It is also important to thoroughly train your employees regarding fair housing laws and the specific standards that you require prior to renting to an individual. These steps can go a long way toward protecting your business if a fair housing-related lawsuit occurs.
Fair Housing laws are designed to protect tenants from discrimination. They serve to ensure that housing is available equally, no matter what an individual’s race, religion, or sex. It is important to ensure that you are familiar and compliant with these laws to protect your business from serious legal consequences. To learn more about California’s fair housing laws, contact our expert team at the Keyrenter in Sacramento today!