WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSING
We encourage and support efforts to ensure that there are no barriers to obtaining home financing because of race, national origin, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, marital status or familial status.
The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, lease, rental or financing of housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program.
State and Local Fair Housing/Fair Lending Laws
In addition to the federal anti-discrimination statutes, many state and local governments have enacted regulations prohibiting discrimination in the sale, lease, rental or financing of housing on the basis of the neighborhood the property in which the property is located, sexual orientation, mental or physical illness, political affiliation, lawful source of income, environmental conditions or other characteristics. Contact your state or local housing agency for additional information.
Rights of the Home or Loan Seeker
You have the right to expect that housing or home loans will be available to you without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. This includes the right to expect:
- Housing in your price range made available to you without discrimination.
- Equal professional service.
- The opportunity to consider a broad range of housing or loan choices.
- No discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing.
- No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing.
- Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities.
- Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling.
- To be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights.
If You Suspect Discrimination
Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the nearest office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or by calling HUD's toll free numbers, 1-800-699-9777 (voice), or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD).
You can contact HUD on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/fhe/fheo.html.
