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Found out how to screen for tenants lawfully with this simple overview of Fair Housing Laws.

Understanding Fair Housing Laws When Renting Out Your Home

Reviewing rental applications means putting people’s history and conduct under the microscope. But Fair Housing Laws put homeowners and their property management under scrutiny too. 

Tenant screening can be tricky business. You want the right person for your home, but using personal preferences could be illegal under The Fair Housing Act (FHA). 

Intentional or not, discrimination could lead to hefty penalties — as much as $24,000 or more. To stay fair and inclusive, this quick guide will answer homeowner questions on how to keep in line with the FHA. 

How do Fair Housing Laws impact landlords?

Homeowners need to follow federal and state laws when renting. This means ensuring there is no different treatment to any applicant based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, or familial status (pregnancy or under 18s). These groups are ‘protected classes’. 

Each state also has their own rulings and many expand on these protections. For example, some include status as a senior, first responder or service member.

11 jurisdictions in the US also include eviction laws. In Seattle, you are not permitted to evict an educator or family during the school year. 

Other examples of discrimination for rental homes under Fair Housing Laws include:

Banning kids from shared facilities in an apartment block

Marketing your home as “in a safe Christian neighborhood” to attract someone on the basis of your preferred faith

Using different income standards or application fees for a person based on their ethnicity or race

Evicting a resident or their guest or harassing them to leave because you don’t agree with their beliefs

Setting restrictive occupancy limits, such as two-people in a two bedroom apartment to prevent families



The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2023 is also in the Senate to expand protected classes. Stay current with 2024 rulings and find detailed examples of housing discrimination from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

What are the penalties for landlords under the Fair Housing Act in 2024? 

If a rental applicant believes you have discriminated against them, you could face:

Fines from a government agency enforcing housing laws

The penalties can be severe. As of 2023, Fair Housing Act Civil Penalties can be up to $24,793 for a first offense. A second can be up to $61,982. This can climb as high as $123,965 for repeat violations.The court may also issue an injunction to prevent future violations. 

Can property managers be liable for discrimination against tenants? 

Yes, if it’s found that your real estate agent or property management company caused the FHA violation, they will face disciplinary action. This may include losing their license and professional accreditation. 

Discover Belong: See why thousands of US homeowners are ditching outdated Property Management in San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Orlando and many more.

How can I avoid discrimination when renting out my home?

The best way to avoid discrimination is to have fair and consistent practices in place. This is easier if you have a trusted partner that has the knowledge and resources to screen and vet applicants equally. 

If you are self-managing a rental home, use these five tips to avoid discrimination and bias. 

1. Get to know your local laws and any recent changes

While the FHA is a federal law, there are many local policies and ordinances that apply to rental housing. For example, in 2022 Alameda County was the first to pass a law banning landlords from conducting criminal background checks on applicants. 

In Seattle, the First-in-Time ordinance requires landlords to offer a rental agreement to the first qualified applicant who provides a complete application. 

In 2024, Fort Worth is considering ordinances prohibiting property owners and managers from refusing to accept housing vouchers, based on ‘source of income discrimination’, which also applies in New York and California.  

2. Stick to facts when advertising your home 

When marketing your rental home, avoid enticing your preferred applicant. Saying your home is “suited for couples only” would discriminate against a mother with a young child. Suggesting someone of Jewish faith would feel “uncomfortable” in your neighborhood is another way of trying to discriminate by discouraging applicants based on religion. This goes for open homes too. 

Play it safe by sticking with the facts that apply to everyone i.e. two bedrooms, one bath, proximity to shops and transport. 

3. Develop a consistent screening process and criteria

When vetting applicants, apply the same process to everyone. Develop a standard and avoid questioning race, sexual orientation or religious preferences. 

If you run a criminal background check, you must check everyone, not only people that “look suspicious”. Not checking someone with your preferred religious background could also discriminate against other applicants.

4. Develop consistent rental policies for adults and families

Consistency is important in lease agreements too. Any rules set should apply to everyone i.e. not banning families from shared spaces for having “too many kids”. 

Occupancy rules can also be discriminatory to families if too low. If you had a two-bedroom home it would be reasonable to restrict the occupancy to 4-6 people. Restricting to two people would be discriminatory, because it would prevent families from applying to rent your home.  

5. Make reasonable accommodations for accessibility

If you own a multi-unit dwelling, there are accessibility requirements outlined in the FHA.

For owners of single-family homes, you need to consider ‘reasonable modifications’. If someone with a hearing impairment asked to install a visual-alert doorbell, this would be a reasonable modification. Or if you have a “no pets” policy in place but a person with a disability requires use of an recognised assistance animal, they should be able to apply for an exemption. 

You can find more examples of reasonable accommodations and modifications here. 

Renting out your home doesn’t have to be a headache, or put you at risk of legal repercussions. Belong has built the modern alternative to property management that puts people first, enabled by best-in-class technology and services. 

The mission of Belong is to create authentic belonging experiences, empowering residents to become homeowners and homeowners to become financially free. 

Fair Housing Laws protect renters from discrimination. This simple overview will help landlords get up to speed on how to screen for tenants lawfully.

Understanding Fair Housing Laws When Renting Your Home

Protect Your Rental With Reliable Residents and Eviction Protection

See the average property tax rates for each state in the U.S. in 2024, ranked from lowest to highest.

Property Taxes By State 2024: Ranked Lowest to Highest

Key takeaways on state property taxes in the US

Property taxes are based on the assessed value of a home and vary depending on the tax rate and property value. If you own a high value property in a lower-tax state, you may still pay more than on a modest home in a higher-tax state. 



The states with lowest property tax include Hawaii with the lowest property tax rate at 0.29%, followed by states like Alabama, Colorado, Nevada, and Louisiana.



New Jersey has the highest property tax rate at 2.47%, followed by Illinois, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.



There are 14 counties with an estimated median property tax above $10,000 across California, New York, New Jersey and Virginia. 


If you're looking for states with no property tax, you won't find any in the US. There are no states without property tax in 2024, although Texas recently passed the biggest property tax cuts in history and there are five US states offering tax relief, credits or rebates. These are Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. 

Everyone pays property taxes. Homeowners and investors are the first to investigate states with the lowest property taxes, but residents also benefit from the funding in communities that local property taxes provide (like schools, roads, and fire departments). That means everyone should get curious about property taxes. 

How much a homeowner will pay in property taxes has as much to do with the tax rate as it does with that property’s value. 

When you’re looking to analyze your cash flow or want to better understand the annual costs of a rental home, it’s important to know what tax rate you might pay in your state (and whether your property is in one of the states with the high or low property taxes!). Note that property taxes apply at a local level, so state percentages are based on medians rates. 

Discover Belong: Enhance your rental home experience and financial goals with Belong's simplified services, available in various cities including  Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Oakland, Redmond, and many more. 

Property taxes are based on the assessed value of your home. Though the assessor doesn’t set the tax rate, their assessment of your home value is a key piece of the property tax equation.

Some municipalities use what’s called a mill levy, where 1 mill = $1 of property tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Others use a property tax rate. Assessed value is calculated as a percentage of the property’s fair market value.

For example, if you owned a home in California that was valued at $573,200, and the property tax rate for 2023 is 0.75%, you would owe $4,279 in property taxes this year. 

That’s why, when it comes to calculating the annual cash flow on a rental home, the property tax rate is equally as important as the home’s assessed value. Even if the state has a low average property tax rate, you may still pay more per year in property taxes if home values are higher than you would in a state with a higher tax rate but lower average home values. 

To make the right decision for you, consider the effective property tax rates by state, starting with the states with the lowest property taxes. This data is based on the 5-year average US Census data, calculated by dividing the median real estate tax paid by the median home value. Your actual rate depends on the local city and the value of your home, so this should be used as an approximate guide only. 

What states have the lowest property taxes 2024? 

The state with the lowest property tax rate is Hawaii, giving investors even more reason to consider the Aloha State. Though their effective property tax rate is a low 0.29%, there are actually several states with property taxes under 1%. The states with an effective property tax of 0.5% or less are Hawaii, Alabama, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, South Carolina, West Virginia, and District of Columbia. 

According to investment guide, The Motley Fool, here are the five states with the lowest property taxes in 2024, alongside their median home values and annual taxes, based on the latest available Census data and 5-year averages. 

The states with the lowest property taxes are: 

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 0.29%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $1,915

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 0.43%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $742

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 0.52%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $2,125

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 0.55%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $1,793

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 0.57%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $1,972

Though a low average effective property tax rate may sound ideal, it’s not the only property tax figure that counts. The actual amount a homeowner will pay has everything to do with that home’s value. Homeowners in Alabama, for example, may pay less per year in property taxes than Hawaiian homeowners, for example, because most home values in Alabama are lower than those in Hawaii. 

Investors need to consider not only the property tax rate, but what that means for their specific property.  

Which states are offering property tax cuts or relief in 2024?

There are five states providing either temporary or voter-approved property tax relief in 2024. For homeowners hoping for property tax cuts, you're in luck if you own a home in:

Colorado (no increased and proposed cuts from 2025)

Indiana (rebates and increased income thresholds

Pennsylvania (rebates and increased income thresholds)

Texas (voter approved "texas-sized" property tax cut)

What states have the highest property taxes 2024? 

The state with the highest property tax rate is New Jersey. The actual rate paid will depend on the value of your property, but the property tax on a median-priced home in New Jersey has averaged more than $8,000 per year in the 5-year averages. The top-5 most expensive states for property tax have a rate between 1.9% - 2.46% and include New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Texas. 

The top-5 states with the highest property taxes: 

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 2.46%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $8,928

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 2.29%

Annual Taxes On a Median-Priced Home: $5,213

Average Effective Property Tax Rate: 2.16%

Discover the average property tax rates for each state in the U.S. in 2024, ranked from lowest to highest, including insights on states without property tax

Better Cash Flow for Your Rental Home

Is eviction protection worth it or another hidden fee from property management companies? Belong shows how homeowners can get a real safety net for evictions

How To Avoid Costly Evictions With Belong’s Game-Changing Safety Net For Homeowners

Rental evictions can be unpredictable — which also means costly. 

If an eviction is contested, legal fees can add up fast. The fear of a costly eviction is why many property management companies started offering what they call eviction protection packages. Only there’s a catch. Many of these packages cost extra and, if you read the fine print, limit what they cover. 

Some homeowners find themselves covered for little more than court filing costs. Depending on the fees of your local county, this could cost the same as the ‘protection’.

It’s these kinds of deceptive moves and hidden costs that Belong came here to disrupt. When we looked at how to protect homeowners from costly evictions, we made sure we addressed the heart of the problem and provided real coverage. 


Why Belong’s eviction safeguards are a game-changer for homeowners


According to Eviction Lab tracking, rental homeowners in 10 states filed for more than 1 million evictions in the last 12 months. Over 75,000 of those took place in February 2024.

We don’t want our homeowners in those statistics. This is why Belong’s eviction safeguards start by seeking to avoid them in the first place. Belong offers peace of mind to homeowners by approaching this problem from both sides:


1. We place residents that are here to stay

Everyone needs a place to call home. With homeownership out of reach for many Americans, there is an increasing need for livable long-term rental housing. Our first priority is preparing your home and finding reliable residents who are ready to make themselves at home. 

For too long, renters have been treated like second-class citizens by traditional property managers, while homeowners are left frustrated by hidden fees and poor communication. It shouldn’t have to be this way. Our approach and 24/7 support to residents help us find people who pay their rent and don’t need to leave. We believe in our approach so strongly that we also guarantee rent, so your monthly cash flow will never take a hit from anyone we place in your home. 

Read More: Why Belong Focuses on Long-Term Rentals

2. We offer up to $15,000 in real eviction protection


Belong’s eviction protection could be the best coverage you’ll ever need. If Belong ever needs to evict someone we placed — we’ve got you covered with a financial safety net.  

Belong-initiated evictions are covered for up to $15,000 in costs — as much as 5-10x what the average property management package is capped at. This isn’t just court filing fees. We’re talking any valid legal fees that are incurred including the cost of attorney and related fees, court costs, sheriff fees, and process servers.

You don’t need to pay extra to qualify for this service either. Just make sure Belong has initiated the eviction of residents we have placed. We can’t provide compensation for evictions that homeowners go alone or make without prior consultation. 

What are property management eviction protection packages? 


For comparison, we researched other property management eviction protection packages to see what was being offered by the top-rated firms in states like California, Washington and Florida. It was a confusingly mixed bag, but options included:

Expensive premium-tier subscription fees for the option of getting eviction protection capped between $500 - $2,000

Eviction “oversight” is offered, with all attorney fees and legal costs passed on to homeowners

Coverage for court filing fees or uncontested evictions only

Fees and charges of ~$75 - $100 per hour when property managers assist with an eviction or attend court on your behalf


Actual coverage will vary between individual property management companies, just as costs vary based on the jurisdiction of your rental home. But it’s important to note the limits of common eviction protection packages before deciding whether it’s a real safety net for out-of-pocket expenses you may encounter as a homeowner. 

There is a better way to avoid the headache of being stuck in the confusing legal system on your own. Ditch the DIY route and fee-ridden property managers to work with a residential network that will put the best people in your home. With first-class vetting, guaranteed rent and real protection against evictions, you can rest easy knowing Belong is looking after you and your financial interests. 

To see how Belong is simplifying the rental experience (and making it easier to choose long-term renting for your home), visit our homeowner's page and learn about services in places like Austin, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and many more.

Protect Your Rental With Better Residents and Real Eviction Protection

How to avoid overpaying for a service that won’t protect your rental home (and what you can do instead).

Do Home Warranties Really Save You Time And Money?

Home warranties promise peace of mind and potential cost savings for homeowners — but are they really worth it? With strict limitations, claim caps and snail-pace response times, the usefulness of home warranties for rental homes is debatable. 

Before purchasing a home warranty for your rental home, we take a look at some of the pitfalls and alternative ways to protect your investment. 

5 reasons why a home warranty might cost more than it's worth

1. The coverage of home warranties is limited

Home warranties should not be confused with home insurance. Warranties have very specific coverage and claim limitations, with caps as low as $2,000. It’s important to read the fine print and find out what you’re actually paying for. If you have new systems installed, you’re likely covered by the product's own warranty. If the system is old, you may have a claim denied based on wear-and-tear or lack of maintenance. 

In the instance of major damage, such as from a storm or accident, you would need to claim this on insurance anyway. Most homeowners would be better off investing in a good rental home insurance policy to get comprehensive coverage.

Read More: What Type of Insurance Should I Get For My Rental Property?

2. A home warranty might not save you any money

If you have appliances in your rental home, it’s worth considering the actual cost of repairing or replacing these items. It may be more cost-effective to replace the item than to have to pay to extend the warranty every year. You should also check the fine print for deductibles and fees that can add to the cost of using your warranty. 

As the District of Columbia points out in their consumer alert on home warranties, there are also caps on warranty claims. They give an example of a boiler costing $12,000 to replace, only for the home warranty coverage to be capped at $1,600. 

If something breaks, you (or your property manager) are still the first contact, not the warranty company. You will need to manage the issue and dealing with a warranty claim could add months to this time.  


Let’s face it, warranty companies aren’t exactly renowned for their speed, which could impact your ability to keep the home in a livable condition. For critical issues such as a broken furnace in winter — you need to act fast. If residents are waiting on a warranty claim, you could find yourself in breach of your own lease obligations. This could give them the right to withhold rent while waiting for repairs or to claim damages and relocation costs, depending on your local ordinances. 

Read More: Why Ignoring Rental Home Maintenance Could Cost You More Than Repairs

One of the conditions of a home warranty is that your appliances and home systems need to be properly maintained. That means if you don’t pay for regular maintenance and it breaks down, they could deny your claim. 

Not all home warranty companies are reputable. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has asked homeowners to report instances of fraud after numerous complaints about the coverage and quality of home warranty products. 

The FTC has also noted that some products called home warranties are actually service contracts. They warn that these service contracts often give the same coverage that the product already has included in the purchase price and that they can make the repair process more difficult than using your own contractor.  

3 ways to manage repair costs for a rental home

If a home warranty isn’t the answer for you, how do you protect your rental home from the unexpected? Here are three handy tips. 

The only way to protect your home against accidental damage and unforeseen events is to get the right insurance. Consider what you need to have protected and find a rental home policy to suit (homeowners insurance is only for owner-occupied homes). 

A burst pipe or a tree falling through the roof won’t be covered by a home warranty, but the right insurance policy could save you thousands. 

Read More: Homeowners Insurance vs. Landlord Insurance: What Policy Do You Need?

2. Find reliable, long-term residents for your rental home

A high turnover of tenants can also increase the wear and tear on your home. 

Belong finds long-term residents that will love your home like their own. Not only does this provide a better sense of belonging and community, it also makes good financial sense. Residents who feel at home will take better care and are more likely to let you know when something is amiss. This will help you take care of small issues, before they turn into big, costly ones. 

3. Budget for home maintenance and repairs

Instead of forking out cash for a warranty you may never use, look at setting up a fund for regular maintenance and repairs. Consider the age and condition of your rental home and set aside funds for upkeep and replacement of any aging items. 

If you don’t have access to funds or need help budgeting, Belong’s flexible payment options will let you spread costs over the term of your lease. This gives you your monthly guaranteed rental income, less an installment for the cost of approved repairs. 

Don’t forget, essential repairs are tax deductible for rental homes, so be sure to document how much you spend. 

Read More: 7 Common Rental Property Repairs and How Much They'll Cost You

Belong makes worrying about maintenance and upkeep a thing of the past. Belong's 24/7 customer support puts over 10,000 professional contractors at your fingertips, ready to help whenever you need them. And if you need regular services like snow removal, gutter cleaning or lawn maintenance, we can set up a subscription for these recurring services. You can even spread the payments over your lease, keeping you cashflow-positive.

Learn more about Belong for rental homeowners here.

Disclaimer: Belong thinks the word landlord is outdated and prefers ‘homeowners’. But sometimes we need to make a distinction between owner-occupied homes and rented homes, so we have used the words landlord and tenant a little more than we’d like. This article provides a guide on home warranties and maintenance but should not be considered financial advice.

Do home warranties really save you time and money? How to avoid overpaying for a service that won’t protect your rental home (and what you can do instead).

Melanie Kershaw

Mel Kershaw is a Content Lead at Belong. With an extensive background working with technology companies including Eventbrite and Yelp, she’s always looking for ways to create educational and informative articles that simplifies tech and solves problems for her audience.

Brett Jaffe

Sparsh Mehta

Ashleigh Graf

Eric Vandekerkhove

Jane Allison Gunn

Brett Jaffe

Sparsh Mehta

Ashleigh Graf

Eric Vandekerkhove

Jane Allison Gunn