Let's Debate: Fair Housing and Military Tenants

[John Williams]

I am a buy and hold investor in Clarksville, TN. I am also currently Active Duty Army. I like to target military cities because of the stable rent growth, housing demands, and easy-to-find tenants. I also like to support the military community. 

I was doing some research and some say that you ABSOLUTELY cannot give preference to Veterans or Active Duty military when offering housing. Apparently, I can't offer waived application fees, 1/2 of first month's rent, or discounted rent to ONLY this community or I'd risk violating fair housing.

Does anyone know if this is true?

And if it is true, do you agree that it SHOULD be illegal to give preference or offer incentives to this community? 

-John

[Nathan Gesner]

@John Williams

I see no evidence that it is illegal to provide special treatment to military. The protected classes include race, color, national origin,religion, sex, familial status, and disability. There may be a few other groups for your state or city. The point is, offering a discount to military veterans would not discriminate against any of those protected classes because a military veteran could belong to any one of them or all of them.

As a veteran myself, I waaive application fees for veterans.