What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing refers to federal laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination and unfair treatment in any activity related to the sale or rental of housing. It always accounts for equal opportunities for financing or other related transactions and in the provision of housing-related services.
Federal Fair Housing Act
Passed in 1968, the Federal Fair Housing Act establishes the right for a person to choose where they live and to live there with dignity and without discrimination. The Fair Housing Act ensures the accessibility of all forms of available housing to all people regardless of certain racial, cultural or physical factors.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on someone’s race, color, religion, national origin, gender/sex, family status, physical disability, and/or mental disability. These groups are also known as protected classes.
States and local jurisdictions may provide additional protections, for example:
-Ohio prohibits housing discrimination based on ancestry or military status
-Cincinnati prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, marital status, or Appalachian origin.
Contact HOME or your local fair housing agency for details about your protections.
Protected Classes
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the rental or sale of housing on the basis of a person’s race or the pigment of a person’s skin. This includes your actual race or perceived race, even when it is not stated or obvious. You are also protected if you identify as multiracial, or if you are associated with (such as being married to) a person of a certain race or color.
View our fact sheet for more information.
Race/Color
The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the rental or sale of housing on the basis of persons who are or perceived to be Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, or of another religious group.
View our fact sheet for more information.
Religion
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to be denied housing opportunities because of a person’s ancestry, ethnicity, birthplace, culture, language, or lack of English proficiency.
View our fact sheet for more information.
National Origin
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in the rental or sale of housing on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
View our fact sheet for more information.
Gender/Sex
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in all housing transactions on the basis of any physical or mental impairment, history of a disability, or perceived as having a disability. The Fair Housing Act also protects those associated with the person with a disability, for example, a parent.
View our fact sheet for more information.
Disability
Familial status, defined as having children under the age of 18, is a protected characteristic under federal, state, and local fair housing laws. This includes pregnant individuals, parents or others persons with legal custody of a child, and those anticipating legal custody of a child under the age of 18.
View our fact sheet for more information.
Familial Status
What Is Covered Under Fair Housing?
All real property (houses, condos, apartments, lots, etc.) rented or sold for the use or intention of use as a home or residence is covered by fair housing laws.
These laws apply to all involved in the transaction: owner, advertiser, HOA, condo board, builder, broker, manager, agent, lender, insurer, etc.
Fair housing rights can be violated at any step during the rental, purchase, or insuring of a property if the actions are based on a person’s protected class.
Common Signs of Discrimination In Housing
Refusing to rent or sell a home
Failing to respond to a call or offer
Denying access to certain sites
Requiring unusual IDs or documents
Charging extra fees or deposits
Altering rules for qualification
Setting different residency policies
History of Housing Discrimination
The history of fair housing and housing discrimination reveals how deeply rooted the barriers to housing access truly are. From redlining to modern-day practices, the fight for equal housing has been long, and it’s far from over.
Take a moment to explore the past to better understand the present:
Videos
Articles
HOME distributes various educational materials regarding fair housing, protected classes, tenant-landlord law, fair lending, foreclosure prevention, and more.
HOME staff can explain your housing rights, help you gather evidence, and advise you on enforcement options. Contact HOME if you feel you may have experienced housing discrimination, have questions, or would like more information.