Fair Housing

Can I lease a unit if I have bad credit?
In order for a tenant with bad credit to be able to rent an apartment or enter into a lease, we recommend that they check with the landlord to see what their credit qualifications are.

On what grounds can my rental application be denied?
A rental application can be denied on the basis of bad credit, insufficient income, bad references from previous landlords, bad references from employers as well as having a criminal background.

Can I be denied a unit based on comments made by a previous landlord?
A tenant may be denied an application because of comments made by a previous landlord where they lived. Individuals who are looking for a place to rent should give references of individuals who they are sure are going to give a good reference because a previous landlord who gives a bad reference can lead to the denial of an application in a future property.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to a gay couple?
A landlord can't deny housing to someone based on one of the protected characteristics under the Fair Housing Laws. The federal Fair Housing Act protects from discrimination based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual harassment, familial status, and disability. It does not protect from discrimination because of someone's sexual orientation, or in this case because they're a gay couple. However in California, and possibly some other states, it does provide protection from being discriminated against because of one's sexual orientation, being a gay couple.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to an unmarried couple?
Landlords cannot deny a rent application to someone because of one of their protected characteristics according to the Fair Housing Laws; however, some states (such as in the case of California) landlords cannot deny housing or rental application to someone because of their marital status, either.

Can a landlord refuse to rent to a person who is HIV positive?
Landlords cannot deny housing to individuals who may be HIV positive or have AIDS, because it would be a form of discrimination against people with disabilities. Having HIV/AIDS is considered a disability.

What can I do if I suspect discrimination?
When someone suspects that they have been discriminated against by a landlord, the recommendation is to call the local fair housing council in their area, or the office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Can a landlord give different tenants different lease terms?
Landlords cannot give tenants different lease terms and conditions based on their characteristics, protected by the fair housing laws. However, some tenants, compared to others, may have different lease terms simply because they are renting a different type of dwelling. For example, if Tenant A is renting a two-bedroom apartment they will have for example, a thousand dollar monthly rent to pay. However, if Tenant B is renting a studio at the same apartment, their rental will be much less than a thousand dollars.

What types of units does the Fair Housing Act cover?
The Fair Housing Act covers all types of dwellings and units, including apartments, single family homes, mobile home parks, condominiums, campgrounds, residential motels and hotels, emergency and transitional shelters.

Can more than one person be on a lease?
More than one person can be on a lease, as long as they're over 18.

What happens if the other people on the lease don't pay their share of the rent?
If the other people on the lease don't pay their share of the rent, everybody on the lease can be held liable for nonpayment or partial payment of rent.

What is "rent control"?
Rent control is usually a local city ordinance or regulation that states that rent cannot be increased a certain amount per year.

Should I keep a record of the unit's condition when I move in?
All prospective tenants before signing a rental agreement or moving into an apartment or home, should keep record of the conditions of which that home was delivered in.