Found this. Curious as to the group's opinion.

w w w .nytimes.com/2018/03/14/magazine/must-i-warn-renters-about-our-racist-neighbors.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur

My own take is you absolutely can NOT tell the renters anything about the neighbors. Nothing personal or subjective - THEY could sue you. For all you know, the prospective renters are friends with the neighbors! Even racists sometimes have friends of a different origin or color.

And if you tell someone of a protected class that the neighbors are racist to warn them, THEY could sue you for steering them away from housing that they want.

I wouldn't say a word and agree with what NE says - that is EXACTLY what I do.

Plus - maybe they aren't "racist" ... maybe they just didn't get along with those tenants - or anyone for that matter.

Just because people are rude and don't like neighbors doesn't make them racist ... just doesn't make them good neighbors.

NEVER give "your opinion" of a neighborhood or people to others that are asking in this situation.

Someone asked me a few years ago that I was showing an apartment to about the previous tenants (I thought it was a bit strange at the moment) but I just said "they were fine, why"? Oh just wondering why they moved ... I said "because their lease was up and didn't want to stay here". Later on I found out they were friends of the ex-tenants and they just wanted to see if I was going to say anything about them in a derogatory nature (yeah - whatever). Who cares? You don't live here anylonger ... get over it already!

When asked I tell about each neighbor by name. I want the possible new tenant to know that I am on a first name basis.

Well next door John and Susie have 2 children in elementary school, Bob and Alice are retired school teachers and Mary and Tim are expecting their first child. Nothing about crimes in the block if their were any.

Don't start none & there won't be none. Why would I interject my opinion about neighbors?? Most of my properties are surrounded by other rentals though......so those neighbors come & go just like mine come & go.

Choosing an action because "THEY could sue you" is not a matter of ethics.

Choosing an action because it is RIGHT or because not doing it is WRONG is ethics.

I think that telling them is actually illegal. It's definitely steering and it can be interpreted as racial discrimination, attempting to steer a minority away by frightening them.

well ... I disagree. Anyone can be an "expert" now with this new fandangled thing called the intranet that won't last anyway. Facebook - is just a bunch of people that post things without checking facts and love to tell people of all their woes but not say anything or get upset because someone did or did not comment. Give me a break.

Unless there is a LAW that indicates to me that I MUST now do a thorough background on the neighbors and the community and have a documented, typed 15 page minimum report in 12 point font provided to each prospective tenant with pictures ... it ain't happening.

I don't care what the so called "expert" says or the idiots on "the facebook". hahahahha ... so long story long - I still wouldn't say anything. If they want to know how the neighbors are or the neighborhood is - it's up to THEM to figure it out. At least the tenants have "that" going for them ... they are tenants. If they don't like it they can just "leave" at the end of the term.

This represents is a real conundrum. On the one hand it could appear to be a violation of FH for discrimination and steering but on the other not telling them could expose the LL to liability if something beyond verbal abuse occurred.

Aside from potential liability there is the issue that if they moved in without being forewarned and found the situation untenable how long do you think it would take before they broke the lease and left. If they could prove that you were aware of the situation it could be difficult to object to their breaking the lease without penalty.

I had the opposite happen. Neighbors thought the tenants of my apartment complex were just average Joe's. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then when an incident happened on the block (not my building) and the police were interviewing potential wittiness. The neighbors heard my tenants responses to their police interview and the one common question asked, "What do you do for a living"? My tenants responded;

I always respond in very general terms such as there are professionals, working people, retired people, etc.

I simply tell applicants that the neighbors seem to be a combination of home owners and renters.

Just the weekend I had someone ask me what the crime rate was in the neighborhood. I'm looking at this guy who, at 5'10" weighed about 350 pounds and wondering who would attempt to rob him? I'm also wondering what he expected me to tell him?

I simply said I was unaware of the stats (which is true) but the information might be available if he checked with our local law enforcement office.

T. What about the Neighborhood ?

LL. I cant Rent ya the Neighborhood.

I do what NE does - tell them to take a walk around the neighborhood on a Saturday or Sunday when there are probably more people around, so they can see for themselves.

I will respond about the immediate neighbors, but only in a very general way: "Oh, Tom and Betty? They are a retired couple, have lived here about x years."

It's not possible to move away from racism, as it is everywhere, in all walks of life, at every income level.

One my good tenants is moving because of the neighbors (not our tenants, and not because of racism.) They are a well-known PITA local family, full of eccentricities. The yard is a mess (in back, hidden from the road, where the house is cute as can be) but right where my tenant gets to look at it. Yard is full of old boats, cars, just plain trash too.

OUR house is really cute, a great space but the tenant just can't take the neighbors anymore. (Shrug) nothing we can do about them.