Best practices for creating inclusive listings, conducting fair screenings, and ensuring your property management practices comply with the Fair Housing Act.
Federal law prohibits discrimination in housing based on protected classes.
What to include and what to avoid in your rental listings.
"2-bedroom apartment near downtown." "Close to public transit." "Hardwood floors throughout." "On-site laundry available." Describe the property, not the ideal tenant.
"Great for young professionals." "Perfect for couples." "Walking distance to church." "Family-friendly neighborhood." Avoid describing ideal tenants or neighborhood demographics.
Equal Housing Opportunity logo or statement. Objective property details: size, amenities, pet policy, parking, utilities included. Rent amount and lease terms.
Preferences for any protected class. Language that discourages certain groups. Unnecessary requirements that disproportionately exclude protected classes.
Screen consistently and document your criteria.
Before receiving any applications, document your screening criteria: minimum credit score, income requirement (e.g., 3× rent), rental history, and background check standards.
Every applicant goes through the same screening process with the same criteria. No exceptions based on personal characteristics.
Keep records of all applications, screening results, and decisions. Document the reason for denial based on your published criteria.
If you deny an applicant, send an adverse action notice citing the specific reason (credit, income, criminal history). My Rental Spot generates these automatically.
Built-in tools to keep you compliant.
Our listing templates include the Equal Housing Opportunity statement and guide you to use objective, compliant language.
TransUnion screening runs the same checks for every applicant. No manual bias. Same criteria, same process, every time.
When you deny an applicant, the platform auto-generates a compliant adverse action notice with the correct legal language.
Every application, screening result, and decision is stored permanently. Complete audit trail if you ever need to demonstrate compliance.
About fair housing compliance.
Compliant listings, consistent screening, and full documentation — protect yourself and your tenants.