Fair Housing vs. Unfair Housing

Do you know the difference?

Knowing the difference between fair housing and unfair housing isn't as obvious as you might think. This blog aims to present a variety of important and interesting fair housing issues.

If you're an apartment professional, avoid costly mistakes by reading the stories of others who — even with good intentions — learned compliance lessons the hard way. (For the easy way, click here.)

If you live in an apartment, get familiar with your rights when it comes to housing discrimination, as well as your options for seeking justice.


Saturday, February 25, 2012

Fair Housing Help: Albinism and the Fair Housing Act

Although the Fair Housing Act (FHA) doesn't specifically ban discrimination against people who have albinism, landlords may run afoul of the FHA for such discrimination in at least one of two ways.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Fair Housing Help: Drug and Alcohol Addictions as Disabilities

If you're an apartment hunter and either you're an alcoholic or you have a drug addiction, you may be concerned that this will cause you problems in your search. If you're a landlord, you might wonder whether you can reject someone's apartment application simply because that person is addicted to alcohol or drugs.

The short answer is that landlords can't reject applicants for this reason because addictions are considered disabilities—but that's not the end of the story.

Check out my summary of what you need to know about fair housing law and prospects with a drug or alcohol addiction.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fair Housing Help: Disability Rights With No Disability?

Did you know that the Fair Housing Act's (FHA) ban against disability-based discrimination applies to some people who don't have a disability? Prospects and tenants who used to have a disability and even some who never had a disability may be protected, too.

I've identified three main types of situations where renters may be protected against disability discrimination even if they don't have a disability.