 Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Mar 14, 2012 3:59 PM
 Discrimination (by Dan [MA]) Mar 14, 2012 4:04 PM
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Mar 14, 2012 5:17 PM
Discrimination (by Irish [MD]) Mar 14, 2012 5:55 PM
Discrimination (by Steve [MA]) Mar 14, 2012 6:14 PM
Discrimination (by Virden [OH]) Mar 14, 2012 8:11 PM
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Mar 15, 2012 5:55 AM
Discrimination (by John... [MI]) Mar 15, 2012 10:46 AM
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Mar 15, 2012 11:12 AM
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 3:59 PM
Message:
State Specific Question About: MASSACHUSETTS (MA)
Please - Only experienced MA LL's:
In follow up to another string here, please verify if I am correct. In MA, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone who receives income from any government program.
This would include those who are on unemployment, correct?
Applicable Law. The Massachusetts Fair Housing statute, as contained in M.G.L. c. 151B, s. 4 prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, children, handicap, and receipt of public assistance or housing subsidy in the selling, renting or leasing of housing accommodations, commercial space, or land intended for use as such.
--76.119.xxx.xxx |
Discrimination (by Dan [MA]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 4:04 PM
Message:
You are correct. You can not decline them for the simple reason that their source of income is something other than a typical job. However, you can still have legitimate criteria on how much money you want the applicant to be receiving each month (perhaps three times the rent). As long as you apply that same standard to everyone, you are within the law. --76.19.xx.xx |
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 5:17 PM
Message:
Thank You Dan! That was my understanding of the law in MA as well.
Another LL was questioning this. --76.119.xxx.xxx |
Discrimination (by Irish [MD]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 5:55 PM
Message:
another devious way is inquire what the program inspector inspects, then create ways it will not pass inspection --96.239.xxx.xx |
Discrimination (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 6:14 PM
Message:
I concur with Dan.
--72.85.xxx.xxx |
Discrimination (by Virden [OH]) Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 8:11 PM
Message:
Child support like unemployment is an award of the court or political system, these things the tenant has no control whatsoever of, so they are not income in my book. --76.241.xxx.xx |
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Posted on: Mar 15, 2012 5:55 AM
Message:
The key is you cannot refuse them on the basis of type of income alone. As Dan states above, we are free to have other criteria, such as credit score, amount of deposits, complete application, landlord references, etc.. If the prospect is unable to meet any of those criteria, provided the criteria is the same for all who apply, I am within my legal right to deny rental of the property. See guys - I am learning! --76.119.xxx.xxx |
Discrimination (by John... [MI]) Posted on: Mar 15, 2012 10:46 AM
Message:
To be very clear (because the way you just said that makes me wonder if you realize it), you CAN deny based on the AMOUNT of income, of course -- just not the SOURCE. I find that most people getting "public assistance or housing subsidy" are NOT getting 3x the rent in that assistance or subsidy, right?
You CAN deny for them not making enough money -- you just need to ignore if some of it happens to come from government assistance.
- John...
--216.111.xxx.xx |
Discrimination (by LadyLL [MA]) Posted on: Mar 15, 2012 11:12 AM
Message:
Thx John, yes I do realize that. I should have included that w/criteria, 3x rent amount, for monthly income required. --76.119.xxx.xxx |
Reply:
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