Georgia Discrimination Laws: Everything You Need to Know
Being a landlord or property manager is difficult work. There is so much to do from one day to the next… and knowing how any laws apply to those actions is part of it. That’s right. People who manage property are governed by various laws so that what they do is considered fair in all sorts of ways. Each state can be slightly different as well. Landlords in Georgia need to know the Georgia discrimination laws because they can have small differences in how things are worded or applied. Tenants certainly would benefit from knowing their rights also.
As Atlanta property managers we need to know all of these things inside and out. It isn’t acceptable to be ignorant when it comes to the laws that apply for your job. Also, at the end of the day, you want to know that renters are being treated fairly and so having laws and regulations that spell out what that means is better than trying to wing it. Let’s take a look at the Georgia discrimination laws that pertain to rental property in the state. In this article we will go over the following:
- The Basics of Georgia Discrimination Laws – We will tackle a lot of the fundamental parts of the state’s laws.
- What Are the Protected Classes in Georgia? – We will then touch on the particular protected classes that apply to Georgia.
- How Property Management Can Help in Navigating Laws – And finally, it would be good to touch on how a professional property management solution could be a gamechanger when it comes to staying compliant with state and federal laws.
The Basics of Georgia Discrimination Laws
Both federal and Georgia state laws protect individuals from housing discrimination. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The Georgia Fair Housing Act aligns with these protections (but doesn’t really expand them).
Discriminatory practices in housing can happen in various ways. It could mean refusing to rent a property, falsely claiming that a unit is unavailable, or offering different terms or conditions. It could even take the form of steering individuals toward specific neighborhoods based on their characteristics. Such actions are illegal under both federal and state laws. Georgia law outlines a number of these types of actions.
Individuals with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations. This is included in Georgia discrimination laws and is something to always have in mind. This might involve adjustments to rules, policies, or physical modifications to the property. Landlords are obligated to provide these accommodations unless doing so would cause undue hardship… so familiarizing yourself with the details of these regulations and how they apply to various situations can be a major thing for many landlords.
Georgia discrimination laws also go over what to do when a tenant or potential tenant thinks they might have been discriminated against. If someone believes they have been subjected to housing discrimination, they can file a complaint with the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It’s important to act promptly, as there are time limits for filing such complaints.
For more detailed information, you can refer to Chapter 186-2 of the Georgia Fair Housing Law.
What Are the Protected Classes in Georgia?
Protected classes are an important part of Georgia discrimination laws… partially because they can vary some from one state to the other. It is good to know what protected classes are specifically addressed in your state. In the case of Georgia, the protected classes align with federal laws when it comes to the particular classifications.
Protected Classes in Georgia:
- Race
- National origin
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- Familial Status
- Disability
Landlords and property managers need to be conscious basically any time they are taking actions or decisions that could be conducted and have these classifications as a factor. Things such as refusing to rent to someone, charging different rates, or offering different terms based on these characteristics is against the law.
How Property Management Can Help in Navigating Laws
Landlords (and owners) know that protecting their rental business from financial and legal disputes is so important. Although rental owners are responsible for staying updated with housing laws and regulations, they aren’t perfect and becoming an expert overnight isn’t reasonable. Luckily, landlords can hire a full-service property management team to help them wade through those waters. Bay Property Management Group’s experienced and trained property managers can oversee virtually every part of property management so that everything is being conducted with the law in mind.
Bay Property Management Group is a property management company in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Virginia, Baltimore, Texas, and growing into more cities and states. We are committed to giving all tenants equal housing opportunities under local and federal law while protecting property owners with thorough tenant screening procedures. If you are interested in protecting your rental property business, give us a call today.
