-The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 protects tenants against all manner of discrimination. Although the act is still in place, you will find that many landlords or property owners use their powers to deny some tenants a place to live. This is called illegal housing discrimination. Keep reading to learn what constitutes illegal discrimination.
Race or Color Discrimination
Cases of landlords limiting people based on color from renting their apartments are not new. Often, they adopt strict regulations and strange terms to keep the blacks or Latinos from renting the property. Some even deny them the opportunity by telling them there is no vacant space. Probably, you have seen “No Black People Allowed” in some apartments, but it is all illegal.
Religion
The United States is home to people who identify with different religions like Christianity, Islam, and more. But it is still common to find some rental apartments labeled “Safe Christian Community’. What does that tell you as a person from another religion? It points out one thing: that the place is only for Christians. This is illegal discrimination, and you can hold the landlord responsible for putting such a statement in their rental property.
National Origin
Note that discrimination based on national origin is not allowed. But some landlords and property management firms use indirect messaging to promote this illegal discrimination. For instance, you will see adverts from property managers offering discounts to Italians. This means that people from other nationalities must pay more, which is unfair. Others don’t accept African tenants into their properties, and if they do, they ask for higher rental fees.
Familial Status or Age
In some apartments and places, you may not get a place to live or stay if you have children under 18. That is illegal discrimination because, as a family, you have a right to stay where you can comfortably afford to pay.
In addition, some apartments do not accept bachelors, while others only accept married couples. Other landlords don’t rent their property to seniors or young millennials; if they do, they put strict terms. All that is illegal.
Sex and Sex Orientation
It is important to note that you cannot be denied a place to stay just because you are a female or male. But in some apartments, they choose to accept either males or females. Some landlords even have terms where single ladies must live in upper-story apartments while males stay in lower-story apartments. Sex orientation is another matter. Some landlords only accept straight individuals.
Disability
It is illegal to discriminate against people with physical or mental disability by denying them a place to live. So, the landlord should not ask about tenants’ disability or illness. And the landlord should accommodate the needs of the disabled tenants throughout their stay.
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