UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS: CAN YOU LEGALLY REQUIRE AN SSN? Citizenship questions can make even the most seasoned property manager feel like they’ve stepped into a maze of “Can I ask this?” and “Is that allowed?” Add in misunderstandings about Social Security Numbers, differences between federal and state rules, and a whole lot of industry myths, and it’s no wonder the topic feels overwhelming. But here’s the good news: the core principles of fair housing haven’t changed, and understanding them doesn’t have to be intimidating. This article breaks down the essentials with clarity, confidence, and just enough
personality to make this compliance read a little less painful. FAIR HOUSING PROTECTS EVERYONE—CITIZEN OR NOT
Let’s start with the misconception that causes the most confusion: the idea that fair housing protections only apply to U.S. citizens. This is not the case! Fair housing protections apply to every person in the United States, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. While citizenship itself is not a protected class, national origin is. That means that if a question, policy, or screening practice disproportionately impacts people based on where they’re from, the
language they speak, or how they sound, you may be stepping into discriminatory territory without realizing it. For conventional housing providers, the rule is simple: citizenship status alone cannot be used to approve or deny someone’s application. What you can and must do is apply your screening criteria the same way for every applicant—no exceptions, no assumptions.
FAIR HOUSING PROTECTIONS APPLY TO EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES, REGARDLESS OF CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
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