CITIZENSHIP IS NOT A LAWFUL BASIS FOR DENYING HOUSING.
CLEAR, FAIR, CONSISTENT—EVERY TIME
To be clear: citizenship is not a lawful basis for denying housing, even if a landlord asks the question of every applicant. In fact, in some states, immigration status is an explicitly protected class under the state’s fair housing law. It’s natural for property managers to feel unsure when navigating these questions, but once the myths are removed, the path becomes much clearer.
Treat everyone equally. Apply your nondiscriminatory policies uniformly. Keep national origin considerations front of mind. And stay informed as state regulations evolve.
Compliance doesn’t have to feel intimidating. With steady practices and up-to-date training, you can maintain a fair, inclusive community and avoid the costly pitfalls that come with inconsistent or misguided application processing.
LESLIE TUCKER, ESQ. Principal Partner Williams Edelstein, Tucker, P.C.
Leslie is the Principal Partner of Williams Edelstein, Tucker, P.C., a fair housing defense law firm, and serves as the Assistant Vice Present at the Fair Housing Institute. With a career dedicated to defending housing providers across the country, Leslie offers over a decade of expertise in fair housing matters. Leslie represents her clients in administrative fair housing cases, assists with drafting and updating company policies, consults on day-to-day fair housing-related decisions, and provides live training sessions on fair housing laws, federal housing programs, and landlord-tenant issues. Additionally, she is an expert in physical accessibility standards for multifamily housing, encompassing both local building codes and federal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHAAG). Leslie has been actively involved in consulting and training with the Fair Housing Institute since 2021.
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