Property Manager – Chatsworth
Can I refuse to rent to someone who doesn’t have a Social Security number?
There are many good reasons why landlords typically request that all prospective tenants provide their Social Security number (SSN). For one thing, you may need the Social Security number or other identifying information, such as a passport, to request an applicant’s credit report.
But what if you encounter an applicant who does not have an SSN (only citizens or immigrants authorized to work in the United States can obtain one)? For example, someone with a student visa will not normally have an SSN. If you categorically refuse to rent to applicants without SSNs, and these applicants happen to be foreign students, you’re courting a fair housing complaint.
Fortunately, nonimmigrant aliens (such as people lawfully in the U.S. who don’t intend to stay here permanently, and even those who are here illegally) can obtain an alternate piece of identification that will suit your needs as well as an SSN. It’s called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and is issued by the IRS to people who expect to pay taxes. Most people who are here long enough to apply for an apartment will also be earning income while in the U.S. and will therefore have an ITIN. Consumer reporting agencies and tenant screening companies can use an ITIN to find the information they need to effectively screen an applicant.
Keep in mind, however, that an ITIN number is not proof of legal status in the U.S. The IRS does not research the taxpayer’s immigration status before handing out the number.
From:http://www.nolo.com/
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