{"id":3250,"date":"2022-10-19T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/?p=3250"},"modified":"2024-03-22T16:38:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T11:08:55","slug":"what-are-hud-paid-shoppers-testers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/19\/what-are-hud-paid-shoppers-testers\/","title":{"rendered":"What are HUD Paid Shoppers \/ Testers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:20px;font-size:28px;font-weight:bold;\">Related Webinars<\/div><div style=\"width:100%;height:auto;overflow:hidden;overflow-x:auto;margin:20px 0;\"><div style=\"width:calc(3 * 260px);\"><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1847\/mastering-resident-file-2026?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/1707319698_f5a2d403ae4a8919f7d1.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">If It Isn't Documented, It Didn't Happen: Creating Audit-Ready Resident Files<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Jul 14th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Doug Chasick<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1856\/hoarding-2026fha?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/1707319698_f5a2d403ae4a8919f7d1.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\">Is Hoarding a Fair Housing Issue? What Every Property Manager Needs to Know<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"margin:10px auto 0 auto;display:inline-block;\"><div style=\"width:20px;float:left;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" id=\"IconChangeColor\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\"><path d=\"M160 32V64H288V32C288 14.33 302.3 0 320 0C337.7 0 352 14.33 352 32V64H400C426.5 64 448 85.49 448 112V160H0V112C0 85.49 21.49 64 48 64H96V32C96 14.33 110.3 0 128 0C145.7 0 160 14.33 160 32zM0 192H448V464C448 490.5 426.5 512 400 512H48C21.49 512 0 490.5 0 464V192zM64 304C64 312.8 71.16 320 80 320H112C120.8 320 128 312.8 128 304V272C128 263.2 120.8 256 112 256H80C71.16 256 64 263.2 64 272V304zM192 304C192 312.8 199.2 320 208 320H240C248.8 320 256 312.8 256 304V272C256 263.2 248.8 256 240 256H208C199.2 256 192 263.2 192 272V304zM336 256C327.2 256 320 263.2 320 272V304C320 312.8 327.2 320 336 320H368C376.8 320 384 312.8 384 304V272C384 263.2 376.8 256 368 256H336zM64 432C64 440.8 71.16 448 80 448H112C120.8 448 128 440.8 128 432V400C128 391.2 120.8 384 112 384H80C71.16 384 64 391.2 64 400V432zM208 384C199.2 384 192 391.2 192 400V432C192 440.8 199.2 448 208 448H240C248.8 448 256 440.8 256 432V400C256 391.2 248.8 384 240 384H208zM320 432C320 440.8 327.2 448 336 448H368C376.8 448 384 440.8 384 432V400C384 391.2 376.8 384 368 384H336C327.2 384 320 391.2 320 400V432z\" id=\"mainIconPathAttribute\" stroke-width=\"1\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" filter=\"url(#shadow)\" fill=\"#FB0351\"><\/path><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><filter id=\"shadow\"><feDropShadow id=\"shadowValue\" stdDeviation=\".5\" dx=\"0\" dy=\"0\" flood-color=\"black\"><\/feDropShadow><\/filter><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"float:left;margin-left:5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;color:#FB0351;\">Aug 6th 2026 @ 01:00 PM ET<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Doug Chasick<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><div style=\"width:250px;height:350px;background-color:#D2E0FF;background:url(https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/assets\/images\/wdt-back.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;border-radius:10px;margin-right:10px;float:left;text-align:center;padding:25px 10px 0 10px;cursor:pointer;\" onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/416\/Assistive-Animals-and-You?utm_source=cp_blog'\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:135px;height:135px;border-radius:50%;border:2px solid #2B58B5;padding:3px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/image.php?src=https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/uploads\/img_upload\/1707319698_f5a2d403ae4a8919f7d1.jpg&w=200&h=200&zc=1&s=1\" alt=\"Speaker\"><div style=\"color:#0E1851;margin-top:5px;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;max-height:65px;overflow:hidden;\"> One Dog, Two Dogs, Three Dogs, Peacock? Assistive Animals and You!<\/div><div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div><div style=\"height:45px;\"><\/div><div style=\"font-size:12px;color:#2B58B5;margin-top:-10px;\"><strong>Speaker: <\/strong>Doug Chasick<\/div><div style=\"width:120px;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:12px;color:#FB0351;border:2px solid #FB0351;border-radius:30px;padding:1px 5px;margin:10px auto;\">Learn More<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the process?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/details\/1068\/what-HUD-paid-shoppers\">HUD Shoppers \/ Testers look for<\/a> your unlawful activities during their investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the different approaches of HUD Paid Shoppers\/Testers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>HUD shoppers\/testers take different approaches to not be suspected. Here are some common approaches of HUD Paid Shoppers\/Testers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Phone calls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. In-person visits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paid testers\/shoppers&#8217; jobs do not end with only checking for discrimination happening. These people are basically hired to ensure compliance with HUD rules and housing policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019t enter your house, but they sure can check around the property. This includes parking spaces, yards, garages, the outlook of your home, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to be cautious at all times and more importantly, stay compliant with the laws and HUD policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-construction-housing"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3250"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4870,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3250\/revisions\/4870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.complianceprime.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}