Fair Housing

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Fair Housing: It’s not an option, it’s the law.

What is Fair Housing?  

Fair Housing addresses housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.  The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing.  Virginia's Fair Housing Law and Regulations apply to rental transactions (trying to rent an apartment or house), to sales transactions (trying to purchase a home), to financing transactions (trying to obtain a mortgage), to insurance transactions (trying to obtain homeowners or rental insurance), and to advertising transactions (how individuals, companies and newspapers advertise about rental vacancies or homes for sale).

Who is Covered by the Law?

Historically, most housing complaints have been based on race. Complaints based on disability, however, continue to increase and may eventually displace race as the most frequent topic of housing discrimination complaints. Complaints based on familial status are generally the third most common type of housing complaint.  Virginia's Fair Housing Law makes it illegal to discriminate in residential housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, or military status. The law prohibits applying one standard to one class of individuals while applying a different standard to another class of individuals.

Examples of Protected Classes: 

Race
Color
Religion
National Origin
Sex
Elderliness
Disability
Source of Funds
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Military Status
Familial status

Where to find help?

HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) works to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities.  To learn more visit: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/aboutfheo. 

Information about Fair Housing may also be found at:

  1.  DPOR Virginia Fair Housing Page. 
  2. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society  
  3. VALegalAid.org
  4. Fair Housing Law (2023)

findhelp is also a trusted resource for support.