Civil
Rights Act of 1968 and 1988 Amendment
In leasing or selling residential property, the Civil Rights
Act of 1968 expands the definition of discrimination to include
not only race, but also national origin, color, and religion.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 further broadens the
definition to include age, sex, and handicapped status.
Fair
Housing Act
The federal Fair Housing Act of 1988 and Title VIII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1968 constitute the Fair Housing Act. The Act
makes fair housing a national policy throughout the U.S. It
prohibits discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of housing,
or making housing otherwise unavailable because of race, color,
religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
Americans
with Disabilities Act
Title III of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits
discrimination against persons with disabilities in commercial
facilities and places of public accommodation.
Equal
Credit Opportunity Act
The federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes it unlawful to
discriminate against anyone on a credit application due to race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or
because all or part of an applicant's income comes from any
public assistance program.
Know
Your Rights and Responsibilities
Homesellers, prospective homebuyers, real estate agents, mortgage
brokers and loan officers all have rights and responsibilities
under the law.
Sellers'
Responsibilities
As a home seller or landlord, you are obligated not to discriminate
in the sale, rental or financing of your property on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or
national origin. Also, you cannot do so through your licensed
broker or salesperson, who is also bound by anti-discrimination
laws. You may not set any discriminatory terms or conditions
in a purchase contract or a lease. Additionally, you may not
deny that housing is available or advertise a property's availability
only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status or national origin.
Real
Estate Professionals' Responsibilities
Real Estate agents, mortgage brokers and loan officers in a
real estate transaction may not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national
origin. Equally as important, they may not follow such instructions
from a homeseller or landlord.
