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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.
THE
REALTOR® FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has developed a Fair Housing Program
to provide resources and guidance to REALTORS® in ensuring equal professional
services for all people. The term REALTOR® identifies a licensed professional
in real estate who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Not all licensed real estate brokers and salespersons are members of
the National Association, and only those who are may identify themselves
as REALTORS®. They conduct their business and activities in accordance
with a strict Code of Ethics.
The
Code of Ethics
Article 10 of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Code
of Ethics provides that "REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional
services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,
familial status, or national origin. REALTORS® shall not be a party
to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status
or national origin."
A REALTOR® pledges to conduct business in keeping with the spirit and
letter of the Code of Ethics. Article 10 imposes obligations upon REALTORS®
and is also a firm statement of support for equal opportunity in housing.
IF
YOU SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION
Call the Local Board of REALTORS®
Local
Boards of REALTORS® will accept complaints alleging violations of the
Code of Ethics filed by a home seeker who alleges discriminatory treatment
in the availability, purchase or rental of housing. Local Boards of
REALTORS® have a responsibility to enforce the Code of Ethics through
professional standards procedures and corrective action in cases where
a violation of the Code of Ethics is proven to have occurred.
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/fhe/fheo.html.
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