Understanding the Fair Housing Act

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If you are going to be a landlord, you should learn about various things. You have to learn about your responsibilities as well as the rights of the tenants. One of the most important laws you need to learn is the Fair Housing Act. The landlords are not the only ones who have to know about this. The tenants or those who are looking for a place to stay should also learn about this to make sure that your rights are. What is the Fair Housing Act in the first place and why it is important that we abide to it? Well, the Fair House Act prohibits discrimination of any sort in terms of selling, renting, financing and advertising of any housing related transaction. It is prohibited to discriminate base on race, color, gender, familial status, religion and more. The HUD has administered the said act since it was adopted in 1968. The law has been amended several times. This is to protect everyone better and make sure they get equal opportunity. In fact, the homeowners or HOAs are asked to make reasonable exceptions in their policies, to make sure that the needs of other potential dwellers are addressed. For instance, in a home for rent where pets are not allowed, a guide dog for a blind renter may be exempted. It is also mandated that rental homes with multiple units be designed to make the space suitable for renters with disability. If a renter with disability asks to modify his living space so that his needs may be addressed, these should be allowed too. The same is true for common spaces. It should be accessible to such renters as well. However, there are cases when this is not applicable. This does not apply to building occupied by owners with less than four units. Single home units that were rented without the help of a broker as well as those properties owned by certain organizations whose occupancy are limited to their members. You also have to bear in mind that the Fair Housing Act also covers advertisements. Therefore you have to be careful when limiting or setting qualifications for renters or homebuyers. As mentioned earlier, there should not be any discrimination or preferences about the color, nationality, sexual orientation religion and the like. This means that no ads should indicate that the owner is looking for female renters or similar specifications. Blockbusting and steering are also illegal. Blockbusting happens when someone encourages a homeowner to sell his property because someone from a certain minority group, race, religion and the like is moving in the neighborhood. It is similar with steering. However, in steering, a sales agent redirects a buyer from the above mentioned group to purchase a home from a community where people with similar race or ethnicity lives. There are various exemptions to the law. However, you need to study the Fair Housing Act thoroughly to understand them. Make sure that you know your rights to make sound decisions. If


you feel that you have not been treated fairly, consult a lawyer. If you wish to file for a complaint, check with the HUD.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roby_V._Pagong

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