Federal state and local laws which forbid discrimination because of race sex color religion or national origin in the selling or renting of homes or apartments and in other specified transactions. The most often referred to laws are Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. These laws have recently been expanded toinclude familial status (having children) and disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act).
The fair housing law provides protection against the following acts of discrimination:Refusing to sell or rent to deal or negotiate with any person Misrepresenting terms or conditions for buying or renting housing Advertising that housing is available only to person of a certain race color sex familial status handicap religion or national origin Denying that housing is available for inspection sale or rent when it really is available Blockbusting a practice whereby a broker hopes to profit through persuading owners to sell or rent housing by telling them that minority groups are moving intothe neighborhood Denying or requiring different terms or conditions for home loans made by commercial lenders such as banks savings and loan associations and insurance companies The fair housingAct applies to the following:Single-family housing owned by private individuals when a broker or other person in the business of selling or renting dwellings is employed Single family housing notowned by private individuals such as those owned by developers Single-family housing owned by a private individual who owns more than three such dwellings or who in any two-year period sells more than one dwelling in which he or she was not the most recent resident Multifamily dwellings of five or more units Multifamily dwellings containing four or fewer units if the owner does not reside in one of the units | |
