Fair Housing Guidelines
The Basic Rule of Fair Housing
In most housing transactions, it is against the law to discriminate on the basis of any “protected class”. That means housing discrimination is illegal when a person is treated differently because they are a member of a protected group or class of people covered by fair housing laws.
Discriminatory Actions
- Refusing to rent, sell, or finance
- Refusing to give information, discouraging from renting, or lying about availability
- Applying different rules, privileges, standards, and/or qualifications
- Making discriminating statement (spoken or published)
- Steering to certain housing
- Harassing, intimidating, threatening, or coercing
- Refusing to let a person with a disability make modifications necessary to use the dwelling
- Refusing to make reasonable changes in rules, policies, practices, or procedures so that a person with a disability can have equal use of the dwelling
Protected Classes
In the entire U.S.:
• Physical or Mental Disability
• Race or Color
• National Origin or Ancestry
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial Status (presence of children under 18 in the household, or pregnancy)
In Oregon:
• Marital Status
• Source of Income
In some cities and counties:
• Age
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity
• Occupation
Who must comply?
• On-site managers
• Owners
• Property Manager
• Maintenance people
• Real Estate Agents
• Lenders
• Advertising Media
• Neighbors (in some circumstances)
• Zoning and permit departments
How is the law enforced?
Filing an agency complaint within one year, or a lawsuit within two years of the date of the discrimination.
