SilverLink - Winter 2008 - (Page 15)

• • Did the applicant leave the unit in good condition? Would you rent to this tenant again? 1 What do Fair Housing Testers Look For? Fair Housing Testers most often evaluate one or more of the following situations: 1. “Paired testing”—a protocol used to detect the interviewer’s attempt to identify the race, sex, national origin, family status or disability status of an applicant. The tester sends an applicant to a facility and tracks how that applicant is received. Another applicant with a different background is then sent to the same facility and that applicant’s experience is tracked. Information from both applicants is reviewed and evaluated to determine if discrimination was involved in any interaction between applicant and property owner/manager. 2. Accessibility violations. Criteria examined may include the following: a. c. accessibility to a unit or office doors and hallways that are wide enough to accommodate disabled residents b. proper marking of parking lots d. sufficient turnaround space in kitchens and bathrooms. 3. Reasonable accommodations to disabled residents. Among others, this list may include the following: a. a landlord’s willingness to fulfill applicants’ requests regarding ramp installation or other physical accommodations b. allowing a service animal on premises (if animals are not generally permitted) c. accepting late payments of rent to coincide with the scheduled receipt of disability checks Owners and property management firms should regularly review on-site leasing activities to ensure that proper oversight is in place to help avoid any of the above violations. On-site employees who interact with prospective and current residents should receive adequate training in FHEO compliance issues.2 Criminal Screening Process for Tenants An increasing number of property owners and management companies have begun using criminal screening strategies to improve the safety of their properties and communities for residents, guests and staff. Criminal screening can decrease a property owner’s or management company’s liability due to criminal acts, but it can 15 silverlink — Winter 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SilverLink - Winter 2008

SilverLink - Winter 2008 Contents Risk Management: Where in the World is Human Resource Consulting? Workers’ Compensation Rate Declines Insurance Certificates Haute Retirement It All Began with a Cup of Coffee Playing Fair in the Housing Market Captives 101 Proceed with Caution Fore! (Or is it Pull? or Giddyup?) Don’t Be Fuelish Employee Benefits: Medical Trend Countdown to Compliance Private Client Services: Buy & Sell Agreements Flood Insurance Pushing Wealth to the Next Generation Client Spotlight: Travel and Transport Internal Happenings: SilverStone Group Giving Back Since 1945

SilverLink - Winter 2008

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