To avoid violating fair housing laws, companies need to be transparent about their rent increase policies and ensure they are applied consistently across all properties. Another best practice is to be prepared to provide documentation to support their rent increases, such as market analysis or the cost of necessary repairs and maintenance. This is critical should a resident raise an allegation of discrimination. Documentation is also a critical fair housing best practice. Every interaction staff has with a resident—good or bad—should be carefully recorded. This way, should any concern be raised, you can immediately refer back to the documentation to see what transpired. Also, be sure to look into your local, state, and municipal laws to ensure you are complying with them as well. If you are ever unsure, you should contact a fair housing lawyer to help you maintain compliance. RAISING RENT - FAIR HOUSING BEST PRACTICES company raises rent in a way that only affects families with children, they may be violating fair housing laws. So how could a company potentially appear discriminatory? Companies that raise the rent in a way that disproportionately affects protected classes may be in violation of the Fair Housing Act. For example, if a company increases rent on all their properties in a predominantly black neighborhood but not in a predominantly white neighborhood, they may be engaging in discriminatory practices. Similarly, if a
COMPANIES NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THEIR RENT INCREASE POLICIES.
PAGE 8
Powered by FlippingBook