The sale and purchase of a home is one
of the most significant events that an individual will
experience in their lifetime. It is more than the simple
purchase of housing, for it directly impacts the hopes,
dreams, aspirations, and economic destiny of those
involved. It is for this reason that the Fair Housing
Act and other federal and state laws were enacted to
guarantee a right to a national housing market free from
discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, and national origin.
THE LAW - Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial
discrimination in the sale or rental of property.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair
housing throughout the United States. The law makes
illegal any discrimination in the sale, lease or rental
of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable,
because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,
familial status, or national origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
prohibits discrimination against persons with
disabilities in places of public accommodations and
commercial facilities.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination
unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit
application on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all
or part of the applicant's income derives from any
public assistance program.
State and Local Laws
State and local laws often provide broader coverage and
prohibit discrimination based on additional classes not
covered by federal law.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The home seller, the home seeker, and the real estate
professional all have rights and responsibilities under
the law.
For the Home Seller
As a home seller or landlord you have a responsibility
and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in
the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial
status, or national origin. You cannot instruct the
licensed broker or salesperson acting as your agent to
convey for you any limitations in the sale or rental
because the real estate professional is also bound by
law not to discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or
landlord cannot establish discriminatory terms or
conditions in the purchase or rental; deny that housing
is available, or advertise that the property is
available only to persons of a certain race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national
origin.
For the Home Seeker
You have the right to expect that housing will be
available to you without discrimination or other
limitations based on race, color, religion, sex
handicap, familial status, or national origin.
This includes the right to expect:
- Housing in your price range made available to you
without discrimination;
- Equal professional service;
- The opportunity to consider a broad range of
housing choices;
- No discriminatory limitations on communities or
locations of housing;
- No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or
insuring of housing;
- Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and
procedures for persons with disabilities;
- Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the
sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling;
and
- To be free from harassment or intimidation for
exercising your fair housing rights.
Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be
filed with the nearest office of the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or by
calling HUD's toll free numbers, 1-800-699-9777 (voice),
or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD).
Contact HUD on the internet at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm. |
