Fair Housing: Know Your Rights
APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH
What is Fair Housing?
Fair housing is the right to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, more commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, ensures the protection of housing opportunity by prohibiting discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin (the federally protected classes). The Act was amended in 1988 to include familial status and disability status as protected classes.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint online by accessing the Housing Discrimination Complaint portal. A United State Department of Housing and Urban Department fair housing specialist will determine if the alleged act violates the Fair Housing Act, and they will review your housing discrimination complaint. The specialist will contact you for any additional information needed to complete this review. If your complaint involves a possible violation of the Fair Housing Act, the specialist will assist you in filing an official housing discrimination complaint.
Or use the Housing Discrimination Complaint Application
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
This app allows you to submit a claim of housing discrimination for review by Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Your fair housing rights are protected under Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act). If those rights have been violated, you can use this App to file a claim of housing discrimination with HUD.
Need Help?
HUD handles complaints about housing discrimination, bad landlords in federal housing and many other issues. For housing discrimination assistance and additional local resources contact HUD:
Online FAQ Site: www.hud.gov/answers
HUD’s online knowledge base helps you find answers 24/7.
Email: answers@hud.gov
The FHA Resource Center can accept emails with attachments. To ensure proper attention to the attachment please reference it within the body of the email.
Telephone: (800) CALL-FHA (225-5342)
Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additional HUD Links:
- Renter’s kit
- Homebuyer’s kit
- Fair Housing
- Tenants in HUD-assisted housing
- Landlord-Tenant Issues and Handbook: Assistance for Renters and Landlords
- Georgia Landlord/Tenant Handbook - questions frequently asked by tenants and landlords
- Landlord/Tenant information
- Protection for tenants affected by foreclosure | toolkit
- Georgia Landlord Tenant Law
- Legal assistance
- Fair Housing Accessibility First
- Federal Fair Housing Laws
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- National Consumer Law Center
- COVID-19 Related Resources for Renters and Homeowners
- Tools for Landlords with Tenants Impacted by COVID-19
- COVID-19 Tenant Guidance: Rent Repayment Plans