Prohibit Housing Discrimination Source Of Income

The act adds discrimination based on source of income as a type of unfair housing practice. "Source of income" is defined to include any source of money paid directly, indirectly, or on behalf of a person, including income from any lawful profession or from any government or private assistance, grant, or loan program.

A person is prohibited from refusing to rent, lease, show for rent or lease, or transmit an offer to rent or lease housing based on a person's source of income. In addition, a person cannot discriminate in the terms or conditions of a rental agreement against another person based on source of income, or based upon the person's participation in a 3rd-party contract required as a condition of receiving public housing assistance. A person cannot include in any advertisement for the rent or lease of housing any limitation or preference based on source of income, or to use representations related to a person's source of income to induce another person to rent or lease property. The restrictions do not apply to a landlord with 3 or fewer rental units. A landlord who owns 5 or fewer single family rental homes, and no more than 5 total rental units including any single family rental homes, is not required to accept federal housing choice vouchers for the single family homes.

A landlord is not prohibited from checking the credit of prospective tenant. Checking the credit of a prospective tenant is not an unfair housing practice if the landlord checks the credit of every prospective tenant.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)