Cities Continue to Engage With the Fair Housing Debate

Should landlords be permitted to use background checks to deny housing to individuals? Do they have a responsibility or duty to make housing available to as many people as possible? What constitutes discrimination, and what counts as due diligence? These are some questions at the center of the fair housing debate. Today, that debate continues to rage as cities nationwide attempt to create more tenant protections. More than a mere matter of fairness, some see it as a central part of fighting homelessness.

Tenant Background Check Legislation Creates Challenges

Debates about fair access to jobs and housing have been a staple in politics across the United States for years. A lack of access to affordable housing and ongoing problems with homelessness mean legislators have faced pressure to take action. Often, such actions target how landlords select applicants for tenancy. Background checks are frequently singled out as a barrier that legislators should remove.

The Latest About AI and Tenant Screening

AI in the hiring process is already controversial, but the growing intersection of AI and tenant screening has received less attention. With companies and brands seeking to integrate various AI tools into their workflows rapidly, many employers are investigating this technology. It is easy to see the potential problems with removing the human element from hiring, but what about housing?