The New York Times Real Estate Section recently wrote this article entitled "Caught in the Web" about Coop boards and landlords going online to check out Facebook photos and Google search records of potential building inhabitants. DC doesn't have coop boards that are as strict or political as Manhattan's, but I think that this internet searching is a fair housing MINEFIELD and I'm concerned about it happening here. In Washington the fair housing laws prohibit clients who use Real Estate Professionals from discriminating based on the following: Race, Religion, Color, Age, Sex, Familial Status, Disability, National Origin, Marital Status, Matriculation, Personal Appearance, and Source of Income. Going online and seeing that your well qualified potential tenant has a teenage soon who looks "up to no good" is discriminatory because you are judging familial status as well as personal appearance. We as members of our community, whether that be as Real Estate Professionals, landlords, members of coop or condo boards, or in other capacities need to put our stereotypes aside and focus on who is financially able and then not worry about what their Facebook photos or Google results. Long and Foster's Leasing Services does a very thorough background check on applications for our company's rental listings and if there is something misrepresented or financially questionable they will find it.
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