Enter Title VI and Executive Order 13166

This Executive Order, signed by President Bill Clinton in August 2000, requires federal government agencies to improve access to government services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). As challenging as it is for those on the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder to find affordable housing, it is very nearly impossible for LEPs.

Many immigrants coming to the United States in search of a better life are fleeing political, military and economic turmoil in their home countries. Such immigrants tend to speak less English than those who may come to America for higher education or professional work opportunities. For them, being able to communicate in their native language on important transactions, such as a residential lease, can make all the difference between failure and success.

By requiring housing authorities to develop a process for providing language services to LEPs, the federal government, on the one hand, made it easier for immigrants to get the services they need, but it also placed additional bureaucratic requirements on the housing authority itself.

While some housing authorities may have people on staff who speak some of the more common languages, such as Spanish or Vietnamese, many immigrants nowadays are coming from smaller or less well-known countries, such as Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and others. Covering these language needs with staff members is more difficult. Moreover, the directive actually discourages housing authorities from allowing family members, children and friends of their clients to act as interpreters because “it is difficult to ensure that they interpret accurately and lack ethical conflicts”.

Professional Language Service Providers

Many housing authorities are now contracting with a professional language service provider (LSP) to meet the needs of their clients and stay in compliance with federal law. Having a reliable language partner to assist them with their clients removes the burden of finding qualified individuals in a timely fashion and helps ensure that information is communicated accurately.

Many LSPs offer their services for both translation (written) and interpreting (oral) needs. Online client portals such as Compass make it easy for the requesting housing authority to have documents translated quickly and professionally. For oral conversations between staff and immigrants, telephonic interpretation (also known as over-the-phone interpreting or OPI) is a cost-effective and very reliable solution.

Key Takeaway

Immigrants face enough challenges in a new country, often with few relatives or opportunities, and with limited resources. Securing a place to live is the first step on their path to making the transition to their new life a success. With a federal government mandate and ample professional providers willing to assist housing authorities overcome the language barriers, there is no reason why they cannot achieve their own American dream.

The post Housing Authorities, Immigrants and the American Dream appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t rent to families that have limited English proficiency—you just have to put in a little extra work to make sure everything is clear and accessible to all your new residents. Translating your tenant lease from English into the languages of your potential clients is a great way to help prevent common misunderstandings that could arise from poor communication. But why go through the trouble?

You’ll Attract More Applicants

If you offer the lease and other documentation in languages other than English, you will be able to attract new tenants from a larger pool of candidates. By increasing your reach, you also increase the chances that you will find more quality tenants that will become long-term residents and treat your property and other tenants respectfully.

Potential New Residents Will Feel More Confident and at Ease

Finding good tenants can be a challenge. Why put up more barriers for them? Translating your lease will make conscientious tenants more likely to choose your property, since they will know exactly what they are agreeing to from the very beginning. They will feel more confident in their decision to rent from you, and will begin to build the foundations of trust right away.

Tenants Will Understand the Rules

Most tenants try to follow the rules as much as possible. But what if they don’t understand the rules? Ensuring that everyone is on the same page about the terms of the rental agreement is key. It becomes a bad situation for everyone when a rule is broken because your tenant was not aware of or did not understand what they agreed to.

Residents Will Feel Welcome

While not providing a translated lease won’t necessarily make non-English speaking residents feel unwelcome, they will likely feel more welcome if you do invest in a good translation. You will show that you care about making sure everyone feels comfortable and that you prioritize communication and accessibility.

Tenants Will Be Aware of Their Rights

It’s not just about making sure tenants know what’s expected of them—the lease also ensures that tenants know what their rights are. Your maintenance policies and protocols, availability, and other key information should be outlined in residents’ information—in their own language. Mutual respect will help ensure a good relationship, and that starts with understanding one another.

A Translated Lease Sets Expectations

Above all, a translated lease sets expectations so that no one is left with questions about how the property is run. Starting off with good communication helps to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to property damage, hard feelings, and termination of the lease for a preventable reason. Retaining good tenants is hard enough—start off on the right foot by providing translations of essential documents.

A Quality Translation

A lease is a complex legal document that can’t just be translated by a bilingual friend or family member. It’s a technical document that requires the skill and knowledge of a translator who has in-depth experience with legal jargon and understands the function of language in legal protections for both the property owner and the renter.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to work with a professional translation company that can ensure a high-quality translation that will meet you and your residents’ needs, while serving as an official legal document.

Ready to discuss your lease’s translation? Contact us for a free consultation.

The post Translating Your Tenant Lease Can Prevent Misunderstandings & Build Better Relations appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.