Landlords Must Prioritize Fair Housing Education

Proper training is crucial to comply with evolving fair housing laws and protect against discrimination claims.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:35pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating grid of rental application forms rendered in vibrant neon hues and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the importance of fair housing practices in the rental industry.Fair housing education empowers landlords to treat all rental applicants equally, avoiding discrimination and promoting access to housing for all.San Diego Today

In California, fair housing rules are among the strongest in the nation, with protections that extend beyond federal law to include characteristics like source of income, gender identity, and gender expression. Housing providers must treat all applicants equally regardless of protected status, but compliance can be complex. The Southern California Rental Housing Association provides extensive training to keep landlords up-to-date, as even isolated incidents of fair housing violations can result in costly settlements and policy changes.

Why it matters

Fair housing is a legal principle that ensures all renters have equal access to housing choices. Violations can lead to discrimination claims, settlements, and required policy changes for housing providers. Proper training is crucial for landlords to stay compliant with evolving fair housing laws and avoid potential issues.

The details

Federal fair housing law prohibits housing discrimination based on seven core protected characteristics: race, religion, disability, familial status, and others. In California, the list of protected classes has expanded in recent years to include source of income, gender identity, and gender expression. Even well-intentioned actions by landlords or their contractors, like suggesting a larger unit for a family, can be considered illegal steering under fair housing rules.

  • April is National Fair Housing Month, a reminder of the responsibility housing providers have to ensure fair treatment.
  • In the past four years, the Southern California Rental Housing Association has trained over 370 housing providers on fair housing compliance.
  • Last year, some Los Angeles landlords were accused of violating California's new source of income protections by barring tenants with Section 8 vouchers.

The players

Southern California Rental Housing Association

A trade organization that provides fair housing training and education to landlords and property managers in the region.

Alan Pentico

The Executive Director of the Southern California Rental Housing Association, who authored this op-ed on the importance of fair housing compliance for landlords.

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What they’re saying

“We strongly encourage all landlords to obtain fair housing training. And this training is not just for property managers – it's for any workers who access your rental property.”

— Alan Pentico, Executive Director, Southern California Rental Housing Association

What’s next

The Southern California Rental Housing Association has two fair housing training sessions scheduled this month to help landlords stay up-to-date on the latest legal requirements.

The takeaway

Responsible housing providers take fair housing compliance seriously and invest in ongoing training to ensure they are treating all applicants and tenants equally, regardless of protected characteristics like race, disability, or source of income. Proper education is crucial to avoid costly discrimination claims and policy changes.