July 2009
Newsletter
Management
The Four Levels of Training Evaluation
Learn how outcome-oriented training can help your ROI. Check out the article by training authority Dr. Ann Kwinn, click here to read more
Marketing
Resident Screening-Why Bother?
Find out how effective screening of prospective residents can save you money and unnecessary aggravation in this article by resident screening expert Linda Richer. This article should be on every leasing agent's wall, click here to read more
Training
“EXTRAordinary Leasing Tools for 2009 - Part 2”
In our May issue, we shared Part 1 of a great article from national speaker and author Toni Blake on how to apply effective selling strategies. Get the complete picture and read Part 2
Test Your Fair Housing Knowledge
True or False
Q: A building with a strict "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.
A: True.
However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.
CallSource® Unveils Program At NAA Conference To Help Vets Find Jobs
CallSource took the wraps off PrideAmericaSM, at the National Apartment Association's Education Conference & Exposition, held last month at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. PrideAmerica is a company-wide program focused on helping our nation's veterans transition back into the civilian workforce.
At the conference, CallSource invited the National Apartment Association and Hire A Hero organization to work withPrideAmerica putting veterans to work in the multi-family housing industry. Several companies stepped forward and pledged to offer employment to veterans. Lincoln Properties went so far as to hire a veteran on the spot, right in the CallSource booth.
If your company is interested in interviewing a veteran for job opportunities, please contact prideamerica@callsource.com
Industry News
FTC Delays Red Flags Rule Enforcement Until August 1
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will delay enforcement of the Red Flags Rules until Aug. 1, 2009, to give financial institutions and creditors more time to develop and implement written Identity Theft Prevention Programs (ITPP). The FTC had previously extended the compliance deadline from Nov. 1, 2008, to May 1, 2009. For entities that have a low risk of identity theft, such as businesses that know their customers personally, the Commission will soon release a template to help them comply with the law. Please note that this deadline revision does not affect the deadline for compliance with the Address Discrepancy Rule, which was Nov. 1, 2008. Read theFTC Press Release.
Justice Department Obtains $200,000 in Housing Discrimination Settlement With Lakewood, New Jersey, Apartment Complex
The Justice Department reached an agreement with the owners, a manager and a former manager of Cottage Manor Apartments in Lakewood, N.J., to settle allegations of discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin and race. Under the settlement, which must be approved by the U.S. District Court in New Jersey, the defendants must pay a total of $170,000 to identified victims of discrimination and an additional $30,000 to the government as a civil penalty. Read more here.
National Multi Housing Council Creates Online Pandemic Flu Resource Center, Listserve
To help apartment firms develop or update their business continuity planning and emergency preparedness plans, NMHC has created an online Pandemic Flu Resource Center, click here to read more
The Center includes previously developed NMHC guidance outlining apartment owner preparations for a pandemic flu and as well as valuable links to the Centers for Disease Control, Ready.gov, state plans for pandemic flu and several other resources. Read the Press Release.
The National Fair Housing Alliance Releases 2009 Fair Housing Trends Report, "Fair Housing Enforcement: Time for a Change."
The report found that housing discrimination in the nation has spiked for two reasons: the worsening foreclosure crisis and Internet advertising that violates fair housing laws. For example, ads that read, 'Indoor pets ok, no kids,' are a clear violation of federal law. To read NFHA's 2009 Trends Report, go to
