Can you say "no Section 8" in a real estate listing?
High risk. Refusing vouchers or lawful income sources is illegal in many places.
Why it gets flagged
Source of income is a protected class in many states and cities, and housing vouchers are the usual example. Even where it is not protected by state or local law, advertising a blanket refusal draws complaints and can conflict with brokerage policy.
Rules vary a lot by location. If you manage rentals, check your state and local law and your brokerage’s policy, and state objective, uniformly applied screening criteria instead.
Instead of
Great rental, no Section 8.
Try wording like
Income and credit requirements apply equally to all applicants.
Flag-only: this is a legal question that varies by location, so treat it as a prompt to check with your broker.
What to say instead
- Income and credit requirements apply equally to all applicants.
- Rental criteria available on request.
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Open the Fair Housing checkerRelated phrases
7 phrases to stop using in listings
A one-page guide with the neutral wording to use instead.
General information, not legal advice. Fair Housing rules, MLS rules and local law vary; your broker and an attorney are the authorities. The phrase check is rule-based and cannot catch everything.