Zillow Adds New Functionality to Its Property Search

Zillow has announced the addition of a new search filter to the rental search experience, "Community Pillar and Income Restricted," which brings a new way for renters who qualify as low-income or may have an imperfect housing history, to search for their next home on Zillow.

"We are so excited to add the 'Community Pillar and Income Restricted' filter into the rental search experience on Zillow," said Rebekah Bastian, Zillow vice president of products. "We've heard from renters who qualify for low-income exemptions or may have rental barriers that finding a property is often the biggest hurdle. This new filter will allow them to easily find properties that meet their needs and to connect with landlords and property managers that can help them."

The Zillow Community Pillar program allows landlords and property managers to self-identify as someone who is willing to modify his or her standard tenant screening process in order to help applicants with potential rental barriers secure a new home. Participating landlords and property managers display a Community Pillar badge on their profile and renters can search the directory by those who registered as Community Pillars. Now, this badge will also be seen on the property's listing page on Zillow.

If a property qualifies as income restricted, a renter will be asked if his or her income meets the standard required to rent the property when submitting his or her information to the property manager. These properties will now show under the new filter.