E-Renter Tenant Screening News

Following on the heels of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) study that indicates minorities experience discrimination in housing, a new HUD study says same-sex couples do, as well.

This was the first national study of its kind, and focused on rental housing advertised online. The results show that gay and lesbian couples were less likely than heterosexual couples to receive favorable email responses to their rental inquiries.

While federal housing discrimination laws do prohibit discrimination against people on the basis of gender and family status, they do not specifically protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. However, 20 states and the District of Columbia do have laws on the books that prohibit discrimination against people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

In the HUD study, same-sex couples received “significantly fewer responses” to emails asking about advertised rental units than hetero couples. Male couples experienced more discrimination than lesbian couples. Surprisingly, those couples in states banning such discrimination received somewhat worse treatment.

The study consisted of 7,000 test emails sent to rental housing providers in 50 metropolitan areas between June and October 2011. Researchers sent two emails to inquire about each rental unit. The emails were identical, except one was from a same-sex couple and the other from a heterosexual couple.

“Unfavorable treatment” included responses that the unit was not available, or when the recipient was not asked to contact the landlord or invited to see the apartment, or received no response at all.

HUD-funded and HUD-insured housing providers and Federal Housing Administration-approved lenders are required to provide equal access to housing without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.

Tenants in a Layton, Utah apartment complex have been given six months to quit smoking. If they don’t, they’ll have to find another place to live. The Skyline View Apartments will be 100% smoke free starting November 1, and that means no smoking will be allowed inside apartments or outside on the grounds.

Some tenants who currently live in one of the complex’s 111 units and don’t want to either quit smoking or move are angry. However, the property manager cites the death from lung cancer of one tenant and a fire started by a cigarette that destroyed eight units as two good reasons to initiate the total ban.

While the management states that no smoking is allowed within 25 feet of the grounds, which includes the sidewalks along the street, the city says they will not cite people who do smoke on the sidewalk or street in front of the apartments.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been encouraging government-subsidized housing managers to enact indoor smoking bans. However, most allow smokers to light up outside, either in designated areas or anywhere they like.

Eliminating indoor smoking can result in significant savings in cleanup costs between tenants. Banning smoking altogether goes a step further in keeping the community of tenants and their children healthier.

Now that we’re nearing the end of 2013’s second quarter, what’s likely to happen in the housing market? Analysts are feeling more confident and predicting stronger growth, which is good for homeowners who saw their home values plummet after the housing bubble burst.

Some analysts see several years of recovery ahead, fueled by job creation, which leads to more households being formed. Many of these new households will buy homes, but trends show that more Americans are wary of home buying and opt instead to rent their housing. Landlords should be ready for strong demand as young people and those who have been doubling up in housing are finally able to move out on their own and become your potential tenants.

However, landlords may also see more turnover as their tenants finally are able to buy homes. According to the National Association of Realtors, 51% of renters now qualify to buy a home, compared to only 24% in 2005.

They also predict more demand for investment housing and vacation homes. Expect to see some competition when you’re scouting out new rental properties to buy. Inventories will probably stay lower than normal, which will drive prices up. However, as prices rise, homeowners are more likely to sell, easing tight inventories.