Don’t stand for housing discrimination!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Everyone has the right to fair housing opportunities.
The denial of housing opportunities because of race, color, religion, sex, nationality, familial status or disability is housing discrimination, and it’s illegal. You can recognize if you are a victim of housing discrimination—and protect your rights—if you know what actions by landlords, sellers, lenders and others are against the law.
Fair housing laws protect renters and buyers from discrimination. If you believe you were a victim of housing discrimination, you have the right to file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD. Understanding the complaint and resolution process will help you weigh your options and take action.
Know the signs
- Sometimes the signs of housing discrimination are obvious, and sometimes they are very subtle.
- The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits several types of discriminatory behavior if they are based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability.
- It is illegal for a seller or agent to run ads or make statements that are discriminatory.
- Mortgage and insurance professionals are prohibited from engaging in certain practices that disadvantage protected classes.
- The Act protects disabled buyers and renters, households that include a person with a disability, and any person associated with a disabled buyer or renter.
For full details, click here to learn more....
File a complaint
- HUD is the federal agency charged with enforcing the Fair Housing Act.
- Housing discrimination complaints may be filed for up to one year after the discriminatory housing practice occurs or ends. However, it is best to file your complaint as soon as possible.
- In cases where state or local law provides rights, remedies and protections that are “substantially equivalent” to those provided by the federal Fair Housing Act, HUD may refer the complaint to the appropriate state or local enforcement agency.
- If you believe you were a victim of housing discrimination, you have a right to file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD. Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800-669-9777 (TTY: 800-927-9275), or visit HUD's website for information about filing a complaint.
- Within two years after a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or terminated, you can also bring a civil lawsuit at your own expense in Federal District Court.
For full details, click here to learn more....
Through multilingual financial education materials, community outreach, and issue-focused advocacy, Consumer Action empowers underrepresented consumers nationwide to assert their rights in the marketplace and financially prosper.
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