How often should staff take fair housing training?

FHI recommends a new employee complete a comprehensive course such as the Basics of Fair Housing Certification within their first 30 days, then take annual refresher training, alternating between in-depth courses and shorter reviews. Fair housing training is not federally required, so the final decision on length and topics rests with the employer.

Is the training accepted in my state?

Fair housing training is not universally accredited. Texas and Virginia review and approve training for housing providers receiving low-income tax credits, and FHI states it is an approved trainer for both TDHCA and DPOR. Elsewhere there is no formal approval system; training is typically reviewed only during a complaint or lawsuit, when its topics, length, and sources may be scrutinised.

Why does fair housing training matter?

The company cites over 33,000 fair housing complaints filed annually, a number it says keeps growing, and puts the cost of a single investigation or complaint at anywhere from $10,000 to well over $100,000. Training is meant to show a commitment to compliance and to cut the risk of a violation.

Compliance training

Fair Housing Institute

The Fair Housing Institute (FHI) sells fair housing compliance training to housing providers: management companies, owners, leasing staff, and maintenance teams. Its content is authored and updated annually by fair housing attorneys, and the company positions training as the practical way to reduce the risk of a complaint.

Courses are on demand and interactive, taken in a single sitting or spread over days or weeks, on a computer, tablet, or phone, and they can be delivered on the client's own training platform. The catalogue includes the Basics of Fair Housing Certification, an Advanced course, the shorter Fair Housing in a Flash, and courses aimed at maintenance professionals, seniors housing, student living, and single-family rentals. Classroom training options, a fair housing library, a newsletter, and career development resources are also offered, and certificates of completion are issued.

FHI was founded in 2005. It states that it trains tens of thousands of housing providers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico every year, and that it is an approved trainer of both the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the two agencies that review training for providers receiving low-income tax credits. The contact address given is in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

Pricing is not published: enrolments are quoted by volume, from a single personal certificate to a whole company, through a course specialist. Because fair housing training is not federally accredited, and is usually only scrutinised during a complaint or lawsuit, ask how course length, topics, and sources would hold up under that kind of review.

Best for

Owners and management companies that need annual, documented fair housing training for leasing and maintenance staff, especially LIHTC properties in Texas or Virginia. Not a source of legal advice on a live complaint.

What they do

Basics of Fair Housing Certification course
Advanced fair housing course
Fair Housing in a Flash refresher
Fair housing for maintenance professionals
Fair housing and seniors
Fair housing for student living
Fair housing for single family rentals
Classroom training options
Fair housing library and newsletter
Course delivery on the client's own training platform

Details

Attribute	Value
Founded	2005

What stands out

Founded in 2005; course content is authored and updated annually by fair housing attorneys.
An approved trainer of both the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
States that it trains tens of thousands of housing providers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico every year.
Issues certificates of completion and can run its courses on a client's own training platform.

Common questions

How often should staff take fair housing training?: FHI recommends a new employee complete a comprehensive course such as the Basics of Fair Housing Certification within their first 30 days, then take annual refresher training, alternating between in-depth courses and shorter reviews. Fair housing training is not federally required, so the final decision on length and topics rests with the employer.
Is the training accepted in my state?: Fair housing training is not universally accredited. Texas and Virginia review and approve training for housing providers receiving low-income tax credits, and FHI states it is an approved trainer for both TDHCA and DPOR. Elsewhere there is no formal approval system; training is typically reviewed only during a complaint or lawsuit, when its topics, length, and sources may be scrutinised.
Why does fair housing training matter?: The company cites over 33,000 fair housing complaints filed annually, a number it says keeps growing, and puts the cost of a single investigation or complaint at anywhere from $10,000 to well over $100,000. Training is meant to show a commitment to compliance and to cut the risk of a violation.