What if you could rent your Baltimore rental homes to just women?
Before you decide who you should rent to, it's worth considering the following insights from a Maryland property management company. Make 2021 a better year than 2020 when you avoid these key legal mistakes! They could cost you more than just your long-term income.
Keep in mind that this information is not legal counsel. We highly encourage you to work with an experienced attorney if you’re not handling this process via full-service property management.
Baltimore rental laws (as well as federal law) make it clear it is not legal to discriminate when undertaking your tenant screening and placement process. These laws apply to just about every type of Baltimore rental home, whether single-family homes or multi-family properties.
Fair housing laws like these protect people in seven categories:
This has been expanded over time to include age, ancestry, marital status, immigration status, sexual orientation, and source of income, among other factors.
When we look at this as a Maryland property management company, it's easy to see that it's not legal for you to limit who you consider renting the property to based on whether or not they are female.
Not keeping the above in mind can seriously cost you in legal fees and other repercussions.
There are some situations where you can be more selective and pick and choose who you wish to rent your property to.
For example, you can:
There are also some limitations that could fit your situation.
If you have Baltimore homes for rent, you are prohibited from refusing to rent the house, negotiate for fair housing opportunities, or otherwise make your property unavailable to those who are in any of the protected classifications under the Fair Housing Act.
You are also not allowed to:
It seems on the surface like you might be facing many limitations as a property owner with these restrictions in mind. The reality is that these requirements are designed to protect your renters and give them access to safe housing.
Inadvertent discrimination is still discrimination, and it's easy to avoid when you work with a professional Maryland property management company to list your Baltimore homes and conduct tenant screening.
Most property owners want to rent to someone who will pay the bills on time, keep the property in good condition, and maintain the safe environment they have provided. That may not seem like a lot to ask, and at Renters Warehouse, we know it isn't.
That said, you have to use the right language, processes, and steps to ensure that any renter you screen for your property is given a fair chance to meet those expectations.
When you rely on Renters Warehouse, we help you find the right renters based on your criteria for renting while following Maryland state law and federal requirements.
Of course, tenant screening services aren't the only way we serve you! As a skilled, full-service property management company, Renters Warehouse is able to provide a wide variety of services to meet your needs as you grow your portfolio in the Maryland area.
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