Understanding Source of Income Discrimination: How Landlords Can Calculate Minimum Income Requirements
The Cook County Human Rights Ordinance prohibits a landlord from discriminating based off the prospective tenant's source of income. However, landlords may deny housing if the tenant does not meet their minimum income guidelines.
For Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 renters, landlords can only use a minimum income requirement that relates to the tenant's portion of the rent.
| Example: | A tenant with a voucher finds a unit that costs $1,000 a month. The tenant portion of the rent will be $200 a month. The housing authority is going to cover the remaining rent. How much can the landlord require the housing seeker to prove they earn, if they have an income requirement of 3x the rent? |
| Answer | A landlord using an income requirement of 3x the rent can only require proof of $600 a month in come. NOT $3,000 which is 3x the total rent. |
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