Topic: What's one question you get asked but feel uncomfortable answering because of Fair Housing?

What kind of people live here?

The smart kind...they chose to live here

That's a great answer

I hate this one. My response is always “we rent to anyone that qualifies”.

I work in a college town and everyone always asks if it's mostly students that live here. I get why they are asking but awkward to try to answer in a fair housing way.

Do you accept 8?

Are you in a state where source of income is protected?

That’s always a rough one with the unfortunate negative connotation that comes with it

“I’m sorry, we’re just a small traditional complex and don’t participate in any government programs at this time”.

“unfortunately we’re not participating in that program at this time”

"We aren't set up to accept any kind of voucher at this time. However, we welcome everyone to apply, would you like a copy of our qualifications?"

In Virginia is just became law that all communities have to accept sect 8. They still have to qualify like everyone else and their voucher amount counts towards their qualifying income. I’m on a brand new luxury community so I don’t think I’ll ever run into this situation but I may.

What kind of people live here is a common question, but I don't mind answering with, "we lease to anybody who qualifies.". The one I feel uncomfortable answering is when people tell me they work nights or whatever, and they ask to be in a building without children.

Are the apartments quiet?

I always answer that one... when you live in a multifamily building you will hear some level of noise from your neighbors. It all depends on how “noisy” your neighbors are or in turn how sensitive to noise you are. It’s a fair answer

Noise doesn’t cause a fair housing issue unless you blame it on kids.

Is it safe here?

I get “how’s the crime in the area?”

this is an insurance liability issue perhaps but not related to fair housing. Fair housing issues involve the government. Liability issues generally don’t.

haha yeah I use to hate that question because in my mind I was always thinking things like ...
Well the one guy who had his elbow shattered in the drive by is finally regaining some use.
Or
Well shots were fired the other day over a disagreement about an electric bill but I mean that could happen anywhere.

Do you have security

Is the crime bad here

So what kind of demographic live here? I just tell them "we don't have a specific demographic. We have studios, ones, twos, and three bedroom units. "

What kind of people live here? I give the typical response but I’ve had people say “I’m gonna wait for the school bus to arrive and see what the kids look like here”

The only acceptable response to this is - the people who qualify to live here and everyone has to meet the same criteria.

Why is that so uncomfortable? Kids are like pets, if you have them then you are more tolerant of others, but if you don't have them and don't want them, then many people aren't really interested in being around them. You do get that is exactly why 55+ communities exist and they are protected under fair housing, which means it isn't anything abnormal at all. Now it is our job to not promote that in communities that don't have that distinction, but if you can't at least be empathetic to people under that age who really aren't excited about kids and would rather not live around them, you might not grasp life. I have pets and kids, but I can completely 100% get someone that wants a quiet life away from them. Adult only resorts also exist specifically for this very reason. Someone that chooses their own life removed from children shouldn't make anyone uncomfortable at all. I'd actually encourage anyone to hang out around the property and see if they feel like it's vibe in general is going to be a fit for them.

I get asked quite often “what kind of people live here” and I attribute it mostly to being in an area that has a reputation for being prejudice/racist. So I just say that we rent to anyone that applies and meets our qualifications.

ESA animals and the fake documents

Where is the violation in asking "have the doc's for the pet and for yourself?", don't forget to tell them ( and send a copy to your underwriter ) you register the pet and them with your insurance company. If something happens on premise and they were suppose to have the pet, you can have the insurance claim them asap. ... Laugh, I did this to a tenant, and now the tenant who has "trauma drama" is required to have his dog with him if he is driving in or out of the lot. best part is when we notified his "doctor" and reported the insurance notification. ... bet that one won't be renewed.

Do you have children here? I don’t like children.

“Do you like it here, would you live here?”
I instantly feel trapped lmao

I use to say, when i was onsite... “i can not sell anything that i do not like. I would absolutely live here”

Hit em with: I would absolutely live here especially with the rents being so much lower than the surrounding properties but I am in a lease elsewhere. Or, With these concessions absolutely, but I own a home.

I always say that I would never live where I work because I like to have personal time. It gets away from the question and still holds form for a positive property experience. If they continue on I tell them I lived on a property I managed once and got a knock on the door at 3am about being late for rent and that kyboshed it for me. The joke works!

Over 50 years in the industry, these are my most frequent questions:
What kind of people live here?
Are there many kids here?

How are you today?

Is this a safe place to live?
Are there a lot of students here?

When a prospect really pushes me about what kind of people live here,I use this great reply that I learned from Doug Chasick, the Apartment Doctor. “So you want to know what kind of people live here? Well, people who pay their rent on time!” It stops them every time.

Question: What’s crime like? Answer: Crime is everywhere

Has a pet ever lived in the apartment?

Are there kids that will live above me?

Are there car break ins?

Today I got asked if it’s okay to grow marijuana inside the apartment.

Is this a safe neighborhood?

When a prospect persists in asking, "What kind of people live here?" and keeps pushing for a more descriptive answer, I love to defer to this GREAT response I learned years ago. Doug Chasick, the Apartment Doctor and Fair Housing expert suggested this answer:
"So you really want to know what kind of people live here? Well, people who pay their rent on time!"

This stops them in their track! Love using it!