The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act was initially enacted in 1968. Its purpose is to prohibit discrimination in the housing market nationwide. The Fair Housing Act specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, color, family status, religion, sex, handicap and national origin. This Act applies to not only the sale of housing but also the businesses of rental, leasing, and financing of the housing market.
Though rare, The Fair Housing Act may not be enforceable in some cases. Listed here are a few rare situations that may be exempt;
- where the owner also resides in the property, which has four or less units
- housing owned by religious groups or private clubs that require membership to occupants
- single family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of a real estate agent
- real estate agents steering people away from certain neighborhoods
- property managers steering people into or from certain dwellings
- advertisements that refer to preferences based on discrimination
- denying a property for sale or lease based on discrimination
- financing discrimination
- offering different conditions and terms for certain groups of people
- harassing to prevent certain types of people from buying or renting a property