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Fair Housing is a right protected by federal and state laws. Fair Housing means you may choose a place to live, regardless of your race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status or disability.

Read excerpts of the Fair Housing Laws

Recognizing Discrimination

Housing Discrimination is rarely blatant. It is usually cleverly disguised and more often than not, is done with a smile. You may not always know that you have been discriminated against, however, if you believe that your fair housing rights were violated when viewing or renting an apartment, viewing or purchasing a home, applying for or securing a home loan, or purchasing homeowners or renters insurance.

What is Prohibited?

The following are prohibited if the actions are based on race, color, national origin, religion,
sex, familial status or disability:

In the sale or rental of housing:

Refusal to rent or sell housing
Making housing unavailable
Set different terms, conditions or privileges for the sale or rental of the dwelling
Falsely deny that housing is available
Provide different housing services or facilities
Blockbusting

In mortgage lending:

Refuse to make a mortgage loan
Refuse to provide information regarding loans
Impose different terms and/or conditions on a loan, such as interest rates, fees, points
Discriminate in appraising property
Refuse to purchase a loan
Set different terms for purchasing a loan

Furthermore, it is also illegal for anyone to:

Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right
Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

Additional Fair Housing Protection for persons with Disabilities:

If you have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, visual or mobility impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, AIDS or mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a landlord may not:

Refuse to let you make a reasonable accommodation (at your expense) to your dwelling or common use area if the modification is necessary for you to use the housing.
Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in the rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

It is illegal for anyone to deny you housing because you have a mental or physical disability, or a record of having a mental or physical disability, or because people think you have a physical disability.