Aside from providing tenants with homes, lease agents and landlords have other obligations too. One of those is providing them with a safe environment free from danger and violence. The Fair Housing Act contributes to making this possible. It mandates that landlords, property managers, and leasing agents are not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on race, religion, gender, age, and many more.

The Fair Housing Act encompasses a lot of things. But today, we are focusing on one particular sensitive subject: sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is one form of discrimination and intimidation. The use of unsolicited sexual advances that are threatening and offensive is considered sexual harassment. It can happen to anyone, not just to women. It can also happen anywhere. As a leasing agent, you have to make sure that you recommend a harassment-free home environment to your clients.

There are two basic types of sexual harassment:

• Hostile Environment

This type of harassment is when property owners, leasing agents, and other tenants are involved in sexual acts and can alter some of the terms and housing-related services of a rental. It will render the home undesirable and hostile. If this type of harassment occurs, the tenant can file a case even if he or she did not lose housing privileges.

• Quid Pro Quo

This harassment happens when a landlord or property owner subjects a person to commit a sexual activity as a condition of gaining housing.

Both these types of sexual harassment apply to all genders. They can not only arise from desire but also resentment and animosity. The landlords are responsible for preventing any harassment from happening under the Fair Housing Act. They are to avoid committing such acts and should step in once a tenant reports any incident.

Dealing With Sexual Harassment:

Even if the landlord did not execute the harassment, he is still liable. For example, a landlord sends someone to the property to fix a problem. While there, the employee harasses the tenant. Because of it, the landlord becomes indirectly responsible.

Sexual harassment can also occur if a tenant victimizes another tenant. If the landlord is aware of it and fails to take action, he is accountable because he tolerated a hostile setting for the harassed tenant.

Once the landlord receives any report of harassment, he should immediately take the necessary steps to solve the problem. It may include firing an employee or evicting a tenant. The landlord must not respond in a way that might show retaliation against the victim. He should not deny anyone of housing-related services and maintenance.

Some incidents of harassment may result in the tenant taking legal action. The landlord must ask for a formal report in written form. He must have it signed and dated. He must have the complete documents and a record of the actions taken to solve the problem.

Harassment in any form is not supposed to be taken lightly. Some people tend to dismiss the small incidents without thinking that it may escalate and cause a bigger problem. We do not want that to happen. You also have to keep in mind that some people are not comfortable telling their landlords or agents that they are experiencing harassment. Landlords must create a safe setting where a tenant knows he can open up without judgment.

Tenant safety should become a top priority for landlords and leasing agents. It is not enough to recommend a beautiful house. Every time a renter comes across your property listing at Padleads or the other websites it was syndicated to, they will expect the whole package. Part of that package is the physical property, a good landlord, and a healthy environment.