Renting to non citizens

[William George spear]

We are 2 years into rentals and are considering renting to a spanish couple that have been here over 20 years, have fin numbers and are gainfully employed. The husband has applied for a green card. the wife has not. What should I be considering other than the possibility of deportation? The current political climate in washington is another consideration. Would there be any legal rammifications to us  as the landlord. 

[Ihe O.]

There was a long discussion about this 3 months ago which I am going to try and short-circuit with my opening and closing contributions

a) The immigrant status of your tenants isn't really any of a landlords  legitimate business.

b) If you or anybody thinks that it is I refer you to the following below

See 6 - paras 1 and 2.

http://www.equalhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/201...

"However, a person’s ability to pay rent or fitness as a tenant is not necessarily connected to his or her immigration status. Procedures to screen potential and existing tenants for citizenship and immigration status may violate the Fair Housing Act’s prohibitions on national origin housing discrimination. 

HUD will investigate complaints alleging that a landlord inquired into a person’s immigration status or citizenship to see whether national origin discrimination may have occurred."

Note the imperative language. HUD WILL investigate.