Fair Housing
There are many illegal housing discriminatory practices, but you have the right to: seek housing anywhere you can afford to live; inspect any apartment or house which is offered for rent or sale; and be offered the same information, financial and insurance terms and courtesy as everyone else.
Purpose of the Act
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act, which protects you against violations of your housing rights. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of: Race, Color, National Origin, Sex, Religion, Handicap, Military Status, Ancestry, and Familial Status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18).
The Fair Housing Act covers most housing with very few exceptions. It prohibits discrimination in the sale and rental of housing, mortgage lending and insurance coverage. No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, military status, or ancestry:
- Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service, such as a multiple listing service, related to the sale or rental of housing
- Impose different terms or conditions on a loan
- Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for a person with a disability to use the housing. Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move
- Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services necessary for a person with a disability to use the housing
- Refuse to rent, sell or negotiate for housing, or otherwise make housing unavailable
- Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
Contact Us
If you think your rights have been violated, contact the fair housing office. You may also call the HUD Discrimination Hotline at 800-669-9777 for voice audio or 800-927-9275 through teletypewriter (TTY) or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission in Dayton at 1-937-285-6500.