April is fair housing month

Texas REALTORS® support fair housing practices year-round, and celebrate fair housing month in April each year. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, family status, or disability.

The law covers most types of housing and prohibits:

Refusing to rent or sell housing.
Refusing to negotiate for housing.
Making housing unavailable.
Denying a dwelling.
Setting different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling.
Providing different housing services or facilities.
Falsely denying that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental.
Denying access to – or membership in – a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

It's also illegal for anyone to threaten, coerce, intimidate, or interfere with anyone exercising a fair-housing right or assisting others who exercise that right. "All real estate brokers and agents must follow fair housing law," says Bill Jones, chairman, Texas Association of REALTORS®. "Those who choose to be Texas REALTORS® pledge to abide by a code of ethics, keeping issues of fairness to everyone at the forefront of their business."

Listen to one of our fair housing radio spots currently airing statewide.

Source: Texas Association of REALTORS®

Archives Gated-community access, sellers' disclosures Offers via e-mail, rentals being sold Agents' comments First and second mortgages, choice of title companies