Housing Discrimination is more than a refusal to rent, sell or finance housing. With few exceptions, the law prohibits the following acts when based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, age, or marital status:
- Steering people and families to or away from a particular neighborhood or a certain part of an apartment complex;
- Charging a higher security deposit or offering different terms and conditions, use of facilities, or other services associated with the rental, sale or financing of housing;
- Having different qualifying standards, such as closer scrutiny of credit history for some groups while bending the rules for others;
- Saying that housing is not available to view, buy, or rent when it is in fact available;
- Sexual harassment by an owner or agent;
- Harassment of buyers or renters who are exercising their fair housing rights. Harassment of sellers, rental agents, or real estate agents who refuse to discriminate.
Law
Title VIII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1968 is commonly referred to as the Federal Fair Housing Act. This federal law, as amended in 1974 and 1988, protects each individual’s right to equal housing opportunity without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and/or familial status (the presence of children).
In Michigan, housing discrimination is prohibited by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. State law includes all federal protections as well as age, marital status, height and weight.
Local ordinances provide added protection against discrimination based on (Ann Arbor) condition of pregnancy, source of income, family responsibilities, educational association, sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status; (Ypsilanti) sexual orientation, educational association, or source of income; (Lansing) student status, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or source of income; (East Lansing) sexual orientation, student status, use of adaptive devices or aids or legal source of income; and (Jackson) source of income.
To learn more visit our History of Fair Housing Law page.
Other Regulations
The HUD LGBT Rule
- FHC’s Fact Sheet on HUD’s LGBT Rule
- Further details and information
- Further details and information
Questions? Call us at 1-877-979-FAIR or email info@fhcmichigan.org
