Fair Housing It’s Your Right

What is Fair Housing?  Fair housing is your right under the law to choose freely and compete equally for housing, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, handicap or age, and, to that end, to prohibit discrimination in housing by any person.

What is Housing Discrimination?  Intentional discrimination, in which property owners, landlords or homeowner associations try to keep people of color, families with children, and the disabled from living where they want.

What is Prohibited?  In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap: Refuse to rent or sell housing Refuse to rent or sell housing Refuse to negotiate for housing Refuse to negotiate for housing Make housing unavailable Make housing unavailable Deny a dwelling Deny a dwelling Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling Provide different housing services or facilities Provide different housing services or facilities Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or 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. 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.

What is Prohibited? (cont)  In Mortgage Lending: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap (disability): Refuse to make a mortgage loan Refuse to make a mortgage loan Refuse to provide information regarding loans Refuse to provide information regarding loans Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees Discriminate in appraising property Discriminate in appraising property Refuse to purchase a loan or Refuse to purchase a loan or Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan. Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan.

What is Prohibited? (cont)  In addition, it is illegal for anyone to: Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act. Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Landlord Rights  Screen people based on their ability to meet objective business qualifications  Request completed rental application  Request job, resident, credit, banking, former landlord and personal references  Require reasonable income in relation to the rent charged; and  Require residents to comply with reasonable occupancy rules and conditions  Require documentation of the necessity for reserved parking or a service or therapy animal  Require you to pay for modifications to your dwelling and require you to return the unit to its original state when you move out

Landlord Rights (cont)  Require the names of all people who will be living in the unit and the ages of anyone named as a lessee  Require that children and pets-including service animals be properly supervised when outside the unit  Require a reasonable & equable security deposit  Require that all tenants-including children-respect the right of other tenants and comply with all community regulations  Rent to the best qualified tenant  Refuse to rent to a tenant who would pose a threat to other tenants because of illegal drug abuse or severe mental illness  Refuse to rent to tenants engaged in illegal activity

What to Do if you Experience Discrimination  If you believe your rights have been violated, please contact:  HUD Fair Housing Enforcement Center  The federal Fair Housing Act gives the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD) the power to investigate and take legal action to fight housing discrimination.

Other Resources  Florida Commission on Human Relations  Leon County Housing Services

Fair Housing It’s Your Right