Avoiding Section 8

[Art Maydan]

I bought a duplex that I want to house hack. We just listed the downstairs unit and I’m getting a lot of people asking if we work with Section 8. Can I legally tell them “No” because of the ‘Choose your neighbor” laws, or do I need to make them jump through hoops until they give up? How do I avoid Section 8 while remaining compliant with the law?

Thank you!

[Brie Schmidt]

 @Andrew E.

@Deanna McCormick

Be care what advice you give if you are not local.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW in Chicago and Cook County to deny a section 8 tenant.

@Art Maydan - If someone asks if you accept Section 8 your answer should be "Of course I do!  My qualifications for all my tenants is that your income must be X times rent and your credit score must be at least XXX"

Section 8 is a protected class but you are still allowed to have a rental criteria that they must meet.  As long as you can prove (if it comes up) that your criteria is the same for all tenants in all your buildings it is not considered discrimination