The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:

• Race or color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18)
• Handicap (Disability)

• Refuse to rent or sell housing
• Refuse to negotiate for housing
• Make housing unavailable
• Deny a dwelling
• Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
• Provide different housing services or facilities
• Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
• For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
• Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

• Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
• Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

• Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Have a record of such a disability or
• Are regarded as having such a disability your landlord may not:
• Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)
• Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

• Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if you agree to restore the property to its original condition when you move.)

• Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

Example: A building with a "no pets" policy must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog.

Example: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking must honor a request from a mobility-impaired tenant for a reserved space near her apartment if necessary to assure that she can have access to her apartment.

However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently uses illegal drugs.

Requirements for New Buildings - In buildings that are ready for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, and have an elevator and four or more units:

• Public and common areas must be accessible to persons with disabilities

• Doors and hallways must be wide enough for wheelchairs

• All units must have:

  • An accessible route into and through the unit

  • Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls

  • Reinforced bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars and

  • Kitchens and bathrooms that can be used by people in wheelchairs.

These requirements for new buildings do not replace any more stringent standards in State or local law.

Housing Opportunities For Families - Unless a building or community qualifies as housing for older persons, it may not discriminate based on familial status. That is, it may not discriminate against families in which one or more children under 18 live with:

• A parent

• A person who has legal custody of the child or children or

• The designee of the parent or legal custodian, with the parent or custodian's written permission.

• The HUD Secretary has determined that it is specifically designed for and occupied by elderly persons under a Federal, State or local government program or

• It is occupied solely by persons who are 62 or older or

• It houses at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units, and adheres to a policy that demonstrates an intent to house persons who are 55 or older. A transition period permits residents on or before September 13, 1988, to continue living in the housing, regardless of their age, without interfering with the exemption.

• Your name and address

• The name and address of the person your complaint is against (the respondent)

• The address or other identification to the housing involved

• A short description to the alleged violation (the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated)

• The date(s) to the alleged violation

• A toll-free TTY phone for the hearing impaired: 1-800-927-9275.

• Interpreters

• Tapes and Braille materials

• Assistance in reading and completing forms

• Notify the alleged violator of your complaint and permit that person to submit an answer

• Investigate your complaint and determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the Fair Housing Act has been violated

• Notify you if it cannot complete an investigation within 100 days of receiving your complaint

• Irreparable harm is likely to occur without HUD's intervention

• There is substantial evidence that a violation of the Fair Housing Act occurred

• To compensate you for actual damages, including humiliation, pain and suffering.

• To provide injunctive or other equitable relief, for example, to make the housing available to you.

• To pay the Federal Government a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest. The maximum penalties are $10,000 for a first violation and $50,000 for a third violation within seven years.

• To pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs.