Fair Housing
Is Your Legal Right
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Fair Housing
It's the Law
It is important to understand the basic rights provided to renters under fair housing laws. The premise is simple: everyone has the legal right to live anywhere he/she wants (and can afford) to live. Fair housing laws apply to individuals and families, voucher holders and non-voucher holders alike.
Fair housing does not mean that property owners are required to rent to anyone who comes through the door. Fair housing laws do however require that a property owner treat all applicants the same, regardless of whether they are voucher holders or not.
Various laws exist that protect renters from discrimination based on the following:
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Race
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Religion
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Gender
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Ancestry
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Disability
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Military Discharge Status
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Color
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National Origin
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Age
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Familial Status
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Gender Identity
These are considered "protected classes." Westchester County has enacted its own fair housing law that, with some exceptions, prohibits discrimination based on source income.
Fair housing is your legal right. If you are denied your housing rights, you may be experiencing housing discrimination.
Under the Fair Housing Act, it is generally against the law for landlords to:
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Refuse to rent housing to you because you are a member of a protected class.
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Tell you housing is not available when it is available.
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Show you apartments or homes in certain neighborhoods only.
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Advertise housing to preferred groups of people only.
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Refuse to make certain modifications or accommodations for persons with a mental or physical disability, including persons recovering from alcohol or substance abuse and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
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Harass, coerce, intimidate, or interfere with anyone exercising or assisting someone else with fair housing rights.
To report housing discrimination or to learn more about it, call the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800- 496-4295. You may also file a complaint online.
