How do you screen tenants to make sure you are compliant with Fair Housing Laws?

Name: Mo Wilson Properties
Address: 13496 Minnieville Rd, Woodbridge, VA, 22192, US
Telephone: (703) 878-0000

When screening tenants it is so important to treat every person, every application with the same screening criteria.

All applicants must be evaluated with the same written standards:

*Income (often – 3x rent)

*Credit History

*Rental History

*Employment verification

The key is consistency – you cannot change the standards based on the person.

No discrimination (Fair Housing Act) -they cannot screen or reject on protected classes, including:

*Race, color, religion

*National Origin

*Sex/gender/sexual orientation

*Disability

*Familial status (kids)

Screening decisions must be based only on legitimate business factors like ability to pay or rental behavior.

Focus on ability to pay & lease compliance

*Avoid over-relying on: Old credit issues, outdated evictions and minor or irrelevant criminal history

Tenants should be given an Opportunity to explain (mitgating factors)

*Past eviction due to job loss

*Medical hardship

*Domestic situations

Mo Wilson Properties should be screening tenants using a structured, documented, and consistent process focused on financial reliability and rental behavior—not personal characteristics. That’s the core of staying compliant with Virginia and federal Fair Housing laws.

MO Wilson Properties

www.MOWilsonPropeties.com

13496 Minnieville Road Woodbridge, VA 22192

(Family, Veteran Owned real estate business with over 35 years in Property Management business)

(703) 878-0000