r/asheville • u/goldbman NC • Sep 10 '24

New law--HB556--passed by veto override prohibits local governments from passing any ordinance that would forbid landlords from refusing to rent to tenants whose income includes funding from a federal, housing-assistance program News

https://newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article292183155.html
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u/AuthorizedAgent Sep 10 '24

Being forced to accept voucher would be criminal. It’s near equivalent to being forced to rent to meth heads. Not discriminate against good people using a help system for good. Just identifying the large business risk of the collective.

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u/ExcitementOk1529 Sep 10 '24

There is a difference between being forced to rent to anyone with a voucher and not being allowed to discriminate on the basis of source of income. This absolutely discriminated against people using the system for good by allowing landlord to implement blanket “no voucher” policies.

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u/Mortonsbrand Native Sep 10 '24

What’s the difference between the two. If you’re not allowed to deny based on source of income, you’re defacto forcing them to rent to voucher holders.

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u/ExcitementOk1529 Sep 10 '24

If you have 2 voucher holder and one has good credit and a good rental history and the other doesn’t, you can’t discriminate against the one that meet all of your regular criteria other than “no voucher”.

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u/Mortonsbrand Native Sep 10 '24

Sure.

But say I have 4 applicants.

The two vouchers you mentioned above, the two remaining tenants exactly match the voucher holders save for source of income.

In that case I’d much rather rent to the prospective good tenant who doesn’t have a voucher, and not have to deal with the rigamarole that is associated with voucher programs.

3

u/ExcitementOk1529 Sep 10 '24

Well, that is discrimination

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u/Mortonsbrand Native Sep 10 '24

Is it? Where I sit it looks a lot more like a business decision based on the pros/cons of all 4 tenants.

Would you force landlords to take the voucher holder all other things being equal?

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u/ExcitementOk1529 Sep 10 '24

First qualified applicant?

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u/Mortonsbrand Native Sep 10 '24

That’s a possible solution for sure.

2

u/rollotherottie Sep 10 '24

you are correct. you look at a lot of things, but if someone with no real income and vouchers with several kids vs a couple with no kids and good income. I know you should give those in more need a hand, but it's a business not a charity at the end of the day. As a landlord you look at who is most likey to pay, be the least hassle, cause less wear and tear on the house, etc

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u/WishFew7622 Sep 10 '24

Shelter should not be an investment. Your crowd is so Christlike.