Equal Housing Opportunity
WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSING
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
The 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.
THE 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.
For the Real Estate Professional
Agents in a real estate transaction are
prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
A request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally be
fulfilled by the real estate professional.
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).
