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WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSING
The sale and purchase of a home is
one of the most significant events that
any person will experience in their lifetime. It is more that the simple
purchase of housing, for it includes the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and
economic destiny of those involved.
THE LAW
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or
rental of property.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a
national policy of fair housing throughout
the Untied States. The law makes illegal any discrimination in the sale,
lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable,
because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or
national
origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination
against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and
commercial facilities.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
makes discrimination unlawful with
respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race,
color,
religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or
part of the
applicant's income derives from any public assistance program.
State and Local Laws
State and local laws often provide
broader coverage and prohibit
discrimination based on additional classes not covered by federal law.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
The home seller, the home seeker, and
the real estate professional all have
rights and responsibilities under the law.
For the Home Seller
As a home seller or landlord you have
a responsibility and a requirement
under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of
property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial
status,
or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed broker or
salesperson
acting as you agent to convey for you any limitations in the sale or
rental
because the real estate professional is also bound by law not to
discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot establish
discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental; deny that
housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only
to
persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial
status, or
national origin.
For the Home Seeker
You have the right to expect that
housing will be available to you without
discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex
handicap, familial status, or national origin.
This includes the right to expect:
• housing in
your price range made available to you without
discrimination.
• equal professional service.
• the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices.
• no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of
housing.
• no discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of
housing.
• reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures
for
persons with disabilities.
• non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental,
financing, or insuring of a dwelling.
• to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your
fair
housing rights.
For the Real Estate Professional
Agents in a real estate transaction
are prohibited by law from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,
familial
status, or national origin. A request from the home seller or landlord
to act
in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally
be
fulfilled by the real estate professional.
THE REALTOR® FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
has developed a
Fair Housing Program to provide resources and guidance to
REALTORS® in ensuring equal professional services for all people. The
term REALTOR® identifies a licensed professional in real estate who is
a
member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Not all
licensed real estate brokers and salespersons are members of the
National
Association, and only those who are may identify themselves as
REALTORS®. They conduct their business and activities in accordance
with a strict Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics
Article 10 of the NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Code
of Ethics provides that "REALTORS® shall not deny equal
professional
services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTORS® shall not
be a party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person
or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,
familial
status or national origin."
A REALTOR® pledges to conduct business in keeping with the spirit and
letter of the Code of Ethics. Article 10 imposes obligations upon
REALTORS® and is also a firm statement of support for equal
opportunity in housing.
IF YOU SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION
Call the Local Board of REALTORS®
Local Boards of REALTORS® will accept complaints alleging violations
of the Code of Ethics filed by a home seeker who alleges discriminatory
treatment in the availability, purchase or rental of housing. Local
Boards of
REALTORS® have a responsibility to enforce the Code of Ethics through
professional standards procedures and corrective action in cases where a
violation of the Code of Ethics is proven to have occurred.
Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the
nearest
office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), or by calling HUD's toll free numbers,
1-800-699-9777 (voice), or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD).
Contact HUD on the internet at http://www.hud.gov/fhe/fheo.html
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We-Refi.com
does business in accordance with all Federal and State laws.
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It
is Illegal to Discriminate Against Any Person Because of Race,
Color, Religion, Sex, Handicap, Familial Status, or National Origin
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- In the sale or rental of
housing or residential lots
- In advertising the sale or
rental of housing
- In the financing of housing
- In the provision of real
estate brokerage services
- In the appraisal of housing
- Blockbusting is also illegal
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Anyone
who feels he or she has been discriminated against may file a
complaint of housing discrimination:
1-800-669-9777 (Toll-Free)
1-800-927-9275 (TDD)
U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Washington, D.C. 20410
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