Federal and state
fair housing laws were enacted to create an even playing field for
home buyers in all areas of a real estate transaction. These laws
prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status, and national origin.
The federal Civil
Rights Act of 1966 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale
or rental of property.
The federal Fair
Housing Act of 1968 (amended in 1974 and 1989) makes fair housing
a national policy throughout the U.S. It prohibits discrimination
in the sale, lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise
unavailable because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial
status or national origin.
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Americans with Disabilities Act |
Title III of the
federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against
persons with disabilities in commercial facilities and places of public
accommodation.
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Equal Credit Opportunity Act |
The federal Equal
Credit Opportunity Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone
on a credit application due to race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, marital status, age or because all or part of an applicant's
income comes from any public assistance program.
Home sellers,
prospective home buyers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and
loan officers all have rights and responsibilities under the law.
As a home seller
or landlord, you are obligated not to discriminate in the sale, rental
or financing of your property on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, disability, familial status or national origin. You also cannot
do so through your licensed broker or salesperson, who is also bound
by discrimination law. In either case, you may not set any discriminatory
terms or conditions in a purchase contract or a lease. You may not
deny that housing is available or advertise a property's availability
only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status or national origin.
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For real estate professionals |
Agents in a real
estate transaction may not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. They
also may not follow such instructions from a home seller or landlord.
Discrimination
complaints about housing may be filed with the nearest office of
the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or by calling
HUD's toll-free numbers, 1-800-669-9777 (voice) or 1-800-543-8294
(TDD).
Or contact
HUD on the Internet at www.hud.gov |
