Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity
The HoosierApartments.com Policy
Property owners and managers are subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits "any preference, limitation,
or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to
make such preference, limitation or discrimination."
HoosierApartments.com supports Equal Housing Opportunity and we encourage users of our site to follow appropriate guidelines to
comply with both the Federal Housing Act, as well as any applicable state and local regulations. All renters are hereby
informed that all property rental offers are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Property Owner's & Manager's Responsibilities
As a property owner or manager you have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the
rental of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot
instruct your agent to convey on your behalf any limitations in the rental because your agent is bound by law not to
discriminate. Agents in a rental transaction are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. They are prohibited from complying with a request from the
property owner or manager to act in a discriminatory manner in the lease or rental. Moreover, a property owner or
manager 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 original.
Renter's Rights
As someone seeking to rent an apartment, home or condo, 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 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
pricing or financing of housing, reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with
disabilities, and to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights.
Roommates & Shared Housing
Federal Fair Housing laws for roommates and shared housing have two components: advertising and decision-making.
-
Advertising: Federal Fair Housing laws prohibit discriminatory advertising in all housing, regardless of how large or
small the property. However, as discussed below, advertising which expresses a preference based upon sex is allowed in
shared living situations where tenants will share a bathroom, kitchen, or other common area.
-
Decision-making: Although the prohibition on discriminatory advertising applies to roommate and shared housing situations,
federal Fair Housing laws do not cover the basis of decisions made by landowners who own less than four units, and live in one
of the units. This means that in a situation in which a landlord owns less than four rental units, and lives in one of
the units, it is legal for the owner to discriminate in the selection process based on the aforementioned categories, but it
is illegal for that owner to advertise or otherwise make a statement expressing that discriminatory preference.
The Law
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.
The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States, making 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.
The 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.
IF YOU SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION
Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
You can contact HUD on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm.
click here to close this message