Consumer Rights in Landlord Grants for a Technology Guild

Landlords who receive grants are entitled to regular consumer rights protection.

The landlord or owner of a property occupied by a technology guild may qualify for a variety of grants to improve and maintain the property, especially if the tenant is a nonprofit organization registered under Section 501(c)(3). A guild is defined as an association of people who pursue a common goal or have a common interest and is usually registered as a nonprofit. Federal and state grants exist for various initiatives, such as the installation of renewable energy in a commercial building or renovations to historic premises.

Basic Consumer Rights

The landlord’s consumer rights inherent in applying for and being awarded a grant are much the same as all other consumer rights, as laid out in the various consumer protection acts. These include the right to privacy of information, which includes both financial and health information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 stipulates that only health care providers, law enforcement and family members whom you identify can have access to your health information.

Rights of Grantees

Consumer rights specific to the obtaining of a grant include the right to fair credit reporting, which may be critical for grant applicants to qualify for the grants. Some grants offer smaller amounts that are intended to be used to lever loan finance from banks, and the success of these applications are also dependent on good credit scores. Federal statutes protect all U.S. citizens from discrimination based on medical conditions, and that includes grantees.

Regulation Agency

The federal trade commission regulates the protection of consumer rights for all consumers through a number of agencies, such as the Bureau of Consumer Protection. The BCP’s jurisdiction includes protection of the consumer in seven areas, including financial practices. Under this category, consumers are protected from “deceptive and unfair practices in the financial services industry, including …. predatory or discriminatory lending practices, as well as deceptive or unfair loan servicing, debt collection, and credit counseling or other debt assistance practices.” Although grants are not mentioned specifically, they commonly fall within general financial practices.

Exceptions

In spite of rigorous consumer protection for landlords, grant applicants and beneficiaries, some conditions exist that are exceptions to the rule. One of these is having a criminal record. Disclosure of a criminal record may disqualify an otherwise eligible landlord from being a grant applicant, especially if the crime was finance-related. Typical exceptions include fraud or theft, as these may affect the recipient’s worthiness for the grant. Most grants for landlords of technology guilds or other nonprofit organizations are likely to include this under the terms and conditions of application, and protection under consumer rights in this instance is not guaranteed.

References

• Merriam Webster: Guild
• U.S. Department of Energy Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency: U.S. Department of Treasury - Renewable Energy Grants
• National Park Service: Historic Preservation Grants
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Health Information Privacy
• Deskin Law Firm: Medical Condition Discrimination
• Federal Trade Commission: Bureau of Consumer Protection

Resources

• Federal Trade Commission: Employment Background Checks and Credit Reports