What is Housing Discrimination?

Housing Discrimination is more than a refusal to rent, sell or finance housing.  With few exceptions, the law prohibits the following acts when based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, student status, or source of income:

• Steering people and families to or away from a particular neighborhood or a certain part of an apartment complex;
• Charging a higher security deposit or offering different terms and conditions, use of facilities, or other services associated with the rental, sale or financing of housing;
• Having different qualifying standards, such as closer scrutiny of credit history for some groups while bending the rules for others;
• Saying that housing is not available to view, buy, or rent when it is in fact available;
• Sexual harassment by an owner or agent;
• Harassment of buyers or renters who are exercising their fair housing rights.  Harassment of sellers, rental agents, or real estate agents who refuse to discriminate.