HUD shoppers/testers are associated with the Fair Housing Act to uncover evidence. It is evidence of discrimination while renting or shopping for a house. It includes all forms of discrimination including race, color, national origin, and disability.
HUD testers were first approved in 1982. Later with Fair Housing Amendment Act approved in 1988, the testing programs increased in number and puts effort into fighting all sorts of discrimination.
What is the process?
HUD Shoppers / Testers are hired or paid by the HUD to call housing agencies discreetly without surfacing their real identity and prudently query about rental properties or houses for sale. Their primary job is to uncover acts against discriminatory acts. HUD Shoppers / Testers look for your unlawful activities during their investigations.
The process begins with a complaint for discrimination. This complaint is filed by a Fair Housing Advocacy company. Although normally the complaints are filed after rejections, applicants do not wait for the formal letters and usually file a complaint immediately. This could be because of some harsh conversation, misbehavior, extreme discrimination, etc.
Once the process begins, to confirm the discriminatory acts and complaints, a process to claim the evidence is through HUD-paid testers. HUD-paid shoppers or testers have various approaches under HUD proper guidelines to contact these blamed housing agencies or landlords and find out the truth.
What are the different approaches of HUD Paid Shoppers/Testers?
HUD shoppers/testers take different approaches to not be suspected. Here are some common approaches of HUD Paid Shoppers/Testers:
1. Phone calls
Although in-person visits are preferred and happen a lot, phone calls are the most common approach. This makes it crucial for the people on the other side of the phone (Housing agents) to know their policies very well and be very careful about how to respond to certain questions.
A good example that could trigger discriminatory flags through this call would be when person A calls with a native accent and asks about the availability of properties. The housing agent forwards the information about the available units. And when person B calls with an accent not familiar, the housing agent rejects the availability of the unit.
2. In-person visits
Generally, most discriminations happen when compared physically to race, color, or national origin. In this case, a comparable native or local white person is sent with a local of different color or race individually.
These shoppers and testers are chosen locally, either by volunteering or per-test payment. It ensures the success and accuracy of the test. Like phone calls, if any visible or hidden discriminatory acts were suspected or seen, actions will be taken accordingly.
Final Words
Paid testers/shoppers’ jobs do not end with only checking for discrimination happening. These people are basically hired to ensure compliance with HUD rules and housing policies.
HUD testers are also sent to check for HQS (Housing Quality Standards) to ensure houses are safe, sanitary, and decent to live in. Remember these testers work discreetly so they won’t enter your house, but they sure can check around the property. This includes parking spaces, yards, garages, the outlook of your home, etc.
It is important to be cautious at all times and more importantly, stay compliant with the laws and HUD policies.
