Fair Housing Rules and How they Relate to the LGBT Community

As a rental property owner, it is important that you are familiar with all the Fair Housing rules that go along with rental property management. Chicago, IL landlords need to know that Fair Housing regulations ensure that a person is not discriminated against because of race, national origin, sex, religion, familial situation, or disability. Chicago employees are also now protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But what about LGBT people and Fair Housing?

In the News
As of April 2017, federal U.S. District Judge Raymond P. Moore in Denver ruled that this law also covers those who are LGBT. From the Chicago Tribune:

“The married couple who brought the case - Rachel Smith, a transgender woman, and Tonya Smith - were denied a rental townhouse along with their two children by a landlord who gave as a reason their "unique relationship," they claimed in court.”

What does this mean if you own a rental property in Chicago?
Though this ruling is not nationwide because it has not been upheld by The Supreme Court, it is important because it deals with fair housing and gender identity. To be considered a fair and non-discriminatory rental property owner, you should avoid discrimination for any reason. If you post an ad that says something along the lines of, “Please, rent out my house in Chicago!” but then deny qualified applicants a lease based on LGBT status, you could very well end up with a lawsuit on your hands. To avoid even the appearance of discrimination, applications or leasing agreements should never ask in-depth questions about disabilities, sexual orientation, or national origins.

Real Property Management Chicago Edge can Help!
In rental property management, there are a lot of rules to know and remember. Instead of doing everything on your own, trust their expert team to do the research for you. To protect yourself and your investment from legal trouble, hire the experts to help.

NOTE: Earlier this April, The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. However, the Seventh Circuit's ruling applies only to its own jurisdiction: the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

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