EQUAL HOUSING & THE FAIR HOUSING ACT
The Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of:
- Race
- National Origin
- Religious Affiliation
- Sex/Gender
- Family Status
- Disability
Examples of Prohibited Actions Based on One of the Six Protected Classes Above:
- Refusal to rent/sell real estate
- Refusal to negotiate
- Making housing unavailable
- Denial of housing
- Changing terms/conditions/privileges of property for sale
- Changing services offered to the public
- Stating false facts about a property
- Denying access/membership in a facility or service related to real estate
- Advertising or making any statement that indicates a limitation or preference for/against one of the six above-listed protected classes
- Threatening/coercing/intimidating/interfering with anyone exercising his/her right to fair housing or who is assisting another who is exercising the right to fair housing
The Fair Housing Act Extends to the Following Prohibited Lending Practices:
- Refusal to loan money for the purchase of real estate
- Refusal to provide information regarding loan products
- Changing terms/conditions/privileges of loans
- Unfairly appraising a property
- Refusal to purchase a loan
- Changing terms/conditions/privileges of purchasing a loan
What To Do If Your Rights to Fair Housing Have Been Violated:
- Within one year of the violation, fill out the HUD Discrimination Complaint Form and mail to: Philadelphia Regional Office of FHEO
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Wanamaker Building
100 Penn Square East, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-3380 - You can also call your local HUD office
- HUD attorneys and/or the State Attorney General’s Office will handle your case at no charge to you until there is a resolution
