Can You Refuse A Section 8 Tenant Applicant?

Q: I’m a new landlord. I’m preparing to rent out an apartment in my new property. A friend of mine told me to avoid section 8 tenants. Can I refuse to rent to a tenant if he or she gets section 8 assistance? John, New Brunswick, New Jersey
A: Hi John. In New Jersey you cannot discriminate based on a person’s source of income, thus refusing to rent your apartment to a tenant because they receive section 8 assistance would certainly violate that rule. Landlord tenant laws vary a great deal from place to place, so always consult the rules in the area where your property is located. As a landlord, it’s best to have a thorough written rental policy that uniformly applies to all tenants and all tenant applicants. A written rental policy can certainly set guidelines and requirements for a prospective tenant’s monthly income, credit score or length of employment so long as the policy is equally applied to all applicants. Thanks for your question, John.
For more real estate tips and information visit my blog at geraldlucas.com.