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The Fair Housing Act,
as amended in 1988, prohibits housing discrimination
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes
private housing, housing that receives Federal financial
assistance, and State and local government housing.
It is unlawful to discriminate in any aspect of selling
or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to a buyer
or renter because of the disability of that individual,
an individual associated with the buyer or renter, or
an individual who intends to live in the residence.
Other covered activities include, for example, financing,
zoning practices, new construction design, and advertising.
The Fair Housing Act
requires owners of housing facilities to make reasonable
exceptions in their policies and operations to afford
people with disabilities equal housing opportunities.
For example, a landlord with a "no pets" policy
may be required to grant an exception to this rule and
allow an individual who is blind to keep a guide dog
in the residence. The Fair Housing Act also requires
landlords to allow tenants with disabilities to make
reasonable access-related modifications to their private
living space, as well as to common use spaces. (The
landlord is not required to pay for the changes.) The
Act further requires that new multifamily housing with
four or more units be designed and built to allow access
for persons with disabilities. This includes accessible
common use areas, doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs,
kitchens and bathrooms that allow a person using a wheelchair
to maneuver, and other adaptable features within the
units.
Complaints of Fair Housing Act violations may be filed
with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For more information or to file a complaint, contact:
Office of Program Compliance
and Disability Rights
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W. (Room 5242)
Washington, D.C. 20140
www.hud.gov/fhe/fheo.html
(800) 669-9777 (voice)
~ (800) 927-9275 (TTY)
For questions about the
Fair Housing Act, you may call the Office of Fair Housing
and Equal Opportunity at:
(202) 708-2333 (voice)
~ (202) 401-1247 (TTY)
For publications, you
may call the Housing and Urban Development Customer
Service Center at:
(800) 767-7468 (voice)
~ (800) 877-8339 (TTY)
Additionally,
the Department of Justice can file cases involving a
pattern or practice of discrimination. The Fair Housing
Act may also be enforced through private lawsuits.
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