Know Your Rights! |
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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 dreams,
families, 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.
It is ILLEGAL to Discriminate Against Any Person Because of Race, Color,
Religion, Sex, Handicap, Familial Status, or National Origin..
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In the sale or rental of housing or residential lots
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In advertising the sale or rental of housing
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In the financing of housing
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In the provision of real estate brokerage services
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In the appraisal of housing
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Blockbusting is also illegal
Anyone who feels that he or she has been
discriminated upon may contact the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development at the following information.
By Phone:
1-800-669-9777 (Toll-Free)
1-800-927-9275 (TDD)
By Mail:
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Washington, D.C. 20410
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.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
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:
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Housing in your price range made available to you without
discrimination;
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Equal professional service;
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The opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices;
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No discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing;
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No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of
housing;
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Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for
persons with disabilities;
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Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental,
financing, or insuring of a dwelling; and
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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. |
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