Q: Can a landlord or owner ask pre-screening questions before scheduling a tour of a unit? If so, what can they ask?
When I call to set up a tour of an apartment, some people ask about my income, credit, number of people living with me etc. Seems unnecessary to have to answer these when I don't even know if I like the unit yet. What is the legality to them pre-screening on the phone?
A: Similar to how you don't want to waste time answerin unnecessary questions, many landlords don't want to waste time showing apartments to prospective tenants who might not meet the criteria need to rent an apartment. As long as the questions don't run afoul of any existing laws or amount to lawfully prohibited discrimination, landlords can engage in screening practices.
A:
In NY, landlords can ask these questions lawfully. They cannot ask some personal questions such as religion, national origin, age, etc. They cannot ask if you are married and have kids, but they can legitimately ask you how many people will be living in the apt unit.
These questions can sound very annoying and invasive, but landlords also have the frustration of taking time and showing a unit to those who cannot afford to pay rent at all.
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