Keeping your Apartment Building Occupied

Keeping your apartment building occupied is paramount to profitability, but don’t be negligent in your application and screening process. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has created regulations that define classes of people who can’t be discriminated against in the rental process. (read more)

As a landlord, you may not discriminate in renting to a person based on their race, color, sex, age, handicaps or family status. HUD recently stated you are violating fair housing laws when “a policy or practice has an unjustified discriminatory effect, even when there is no intent to discriminate. Blanket policies that refuse to rent to anybody with a criminal record constitute ‘defacto discrimination’ because of the systematic disparities of the American criminal justice system”

Even if you and your management team do not believe you are discriminating, you may be sued. The standard General Liability policy protects you from negligence that results in bodily injury or property damage, but it does not protect you from a discrimination suit.

Tenant Discrimination Liability insurance is needed to ensure you are properly covered for these situations. This policy protects the owners, managers and employees against discrimination, harassment or wrongful eviction lawsuits that may be brought against you by applicants, current tenants or past tenants! If you already have an Employment Practices Liability Policy, ensure that it provides third party coverage for suits brought by non-employees (ie tenants) against you or your employees.

To ensure all of your Liability Exposures are properly addressed, contact your local Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent at Richey-Barrett Insurance Agency.