Fair Housing Help: Making Reasonable Accommodation Requests

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) requires landlords to grant prospects and tenants reasonable accommodations that are needed for a disability. Although this may seem straightforward, renters and landlords alike often get confused about the procedure as well as what each party's expectations should be.

To help clear up confusion, I've put together a summary of what you need to know about reasonable accommodation requests under the FHA.

Fair Housing Help: Rights for Renters With Disabilities

Compliance with disability-based housing discrimination rules under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) isn't obvious or just a matter of common sense. There are certain things landlords must and mustn't do when dealing with prospects and tenants who have a disability.

Here's a handy summary of landlords' obligations to renters with disabilities under the FHA.

Fair Housing Help: Finding an Accessible Apartment

If you've got a physical disability and need an apartment that offers accessible features, take advantage of Web resources so you can run an efficient search and get a rental that meets your needs.

I've outlined how to do this in my article, "How to Find an Accessible Apartment Online."

Fair Housing Help: Who Makes Decisions When Apartment Hunting With a Disability?

One way that landlords commonly get into fair housing trouble is by making assumptions about a prospective tenant's housing needs based on their perception of the person's apparent disability. (See, for example, my post entitled, "Paying Dearly for Fair Housing Violations, Despite Good Intentions," October 9, 2009.)

If you're looking for an apartment with a disability or you're a landlord who encounters prospects whom you believe or know have a disability, remember that when it comes to wants and needs, the apartment hunters are the decision-makers—whether or not they have a disability.

Fair Housing Help: What's a 'Qualifying Disability'?

Many people know that federal fair housing law protects prospects and tenants against discrimination based on disability. But what the Fair Housing Act (FHA) considers to be a disability may surprise you by being broader or narrower than you think.

People who have a disability that fits the FHA's definition have the right to some important protections against discrimination. Tenants and landlords alike should check out this summary of the characteristics of a qualifying disability under the FHA.

Fair Housing Help: Learn From Others' Experiences or Share Your Own

One way to find out more about housing discrimination is to learn from others' actual experiences.

That's why I set up a "Readers Respond: Dealing With Housing Discrimination" resource so that apartment prospects and tenants have an outlet to share their fair housing experiences.

If you've got a fair housing story to tell, here's your chance to say what happened, how you dealt with the situation, and what you learned that might lead you to act differently next time.

Check the resource periodically for new stories.

Fair Housing Help: Learn Fair Housing Basics

Whether you're starting an apartment search or you already have a rental you call home, it's helpful to get familiar with fair housing law.

Learning about your rights as a tenant will enable you to spot illegal discrimination. Plus, if you believe you've become the victim of a fair housing violation, you'll be prepared by knowing your options for pursuing justice and seeking damages.

Here's a resource I put together recently to help people get familiar with the basics of fair housing law.

Fair Housing Help: Contact Your Local FHEO Office

Each one of the 10 Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) regional offices across the United States is responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act and related laws. A part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHEO also conducts training, outreach, and compliance monitoring and works with state and local agencies to administer fair housing programs within its geographic jurisdiction.

If you need to contact FHEO about a fair housing claim or other discrimination issue, you can use this table I created to locate your regional office and get contact information.

Fair Housing Help: Identify and Avoid Illegal Steering

Did you know there's a subtle but common form of housing discrimination called "steering"? The term generally refers to situations in which a landlord or other housing professional tries to limit choices by guiding or encouraging prospects to certain apartments, creating unfair, artificial restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) identifies four main types of illegal steering practices. Here's a summary I put together to help you get familiar with each one.

Fair Housing Help: Think Before Filing a Fair Housing Claim

People who believe they're the victim of housing discrimination often have strong emotions. Also, if you read the last post, you know how easy it is to pursue justice by filing a fair housing claim with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Given all this, it's important to think carefully before you proceed with filing a complaint. To help you, I put together an outline of important issues every tenant and prospective tenant should consider. Take a moment to read through each one before deciding to pursue a fair housing claim against a landlord or other housing professional.

Fair Housing Help: How to Pursue a Fair Housing Claim

Did you know that the Fair Housing Act (FHA) lets you pursue a claim of discrimination by filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)? Pursuing this route will save you time and money as well as the need to hire an attorney.

If you believe you're the victim of illegal discrimination, read my step-by-step guide for filing a complaint with HUD.