HUD has decided to implement a modification to the Fair Housing Act which will make is discriminatory to NOT lease your property to a person with a criminal record. Right now, a criminal background is not included in the protected classes (race, national origin or other protected characteristics) which allow a landlord to deny renting. However, because of the widespread racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system, criminal-history based restrictions on access to housing will no longer be a valid reason to not lease.
