Remind me not to become a landlord in DC

[LuFins Dad]

https://wtop.com/dc/2024/02/lawsuit-accuses-dc-property-management-company-of-discriminating-against-potential-tenants/

TLDR - It is illegal for landlords to use the following criteria to select tenants:

Past Evictions
Credit Score
Income
Source of Income
Criminal Convictions over 7 years old of any type
Criminal Convictions under 7 years for any crimes short of Felonious Assault…

So several landlords are being sued for violating these laws and contributing to “Housing Inequity”

[Jolly]

So, why be a landlord? Good tenants can make you, bad tenants can break you. DC is making you take people that will cost you money.

[Axtremus]

You jumped the gun. It’s only a lawsuit, and your article quoted only one side.
Doesn’t mean the other side agree, doesn’t mean the court will agree, doesn’t mean that what you wrote in the opening post is the law or how the law will be interpreted.

Wait until there is a court decision.

[Horace]

Property management must be a nightmare of a profession.

[Copper]

• Landlords leave, poor people suffer
• City claims land through eminent domain
• City builds palaces where felons and illegal immigrants will live
• The fairy princess marries the handsome prince
• Discrimination has been conquered

[LuFins Dad]

@Axtremus said in Remind me not to become a landlord in DC:

You jumped the gun. It’s only a lawsuit, and your article quoted only one side.
Doesn’t mean the other side agree, doesn’t mean the court will agree, doesn’t mean that what you wrote in the opening post is the law or how the law will be interpreted.

Wait until there is a court decision.

One side? Dude, it is illegal to refuse a tenant based on credit score in DC. That’s not an opinion. That’s not a side. It is a fact. It is written in the law. It is illegal to refuse a tenant based on income. Another fact…

These are the statutes. These are the laws of the land. There aren’t sides, or guns to jump…

[Axtremus]

@LuFins-Dad said in Remind me not to become a landlord in DC:

... It is written in the law. It is illegal to refuse a tenant based on income. Another fact…

These are the statutes. These are the laws of the land. ...

Then cite the statutes rather than one side's interpretation of the statutes.

[LuFins Dad]

@Axtremus said in Remind me not to become a landlord in DC:

@LuFins-Dad said in Remind me not to become a landlord in DC:

... It is written in the law. It is illegal to refuse a tenant based on income. Another fact…

These are the statutes. These are the laws of the land. ...

Then cite the statutes rather than one side's interpretation of the statutes.

No. They exist. No real need or desire. Thanks for the suggestion, though…

[LuFins Dad]

And the article submitted was a pretty basic just the facts story from WTOP, which is pretty well regarded outfit.

[Renauda]

@Jolly said in Remind me not to become a landlord in DC:

So, why be a landlord? Good tenants can make you, bad tenants can break you.

Good question. Our home has a two bedroom suite with full bath, laundry, and kitchen. Total area is about 1100 square feet. When we bought the house 25 years ago, we thought we would rent the suite and pay down mortgage. When we looked over the Provincial Landlord and Tenant Act and the supplementary municipal bylaws we decided against renting it out. The hoops a landlord has to go through to evict lay damage claims. Forget it.

What we did instead for the first seven years was sign up with the student home stay programme. Does not fall under any the L & T Act or bylaws and you are paid cash. As the homeowner we had unfettered access to the suite 24/7. If your student causes trouble the agency immediately relocates them. Worked out to $600 / month cash towards the mortgage and taxes. Never had any problem. Most of students essentially became part of the family during their stay. Our favourite was a grad student from Mexico. Damn, could she cook great dishes!