Laws against Housing Discrimination

Landlord - Tenant
Discrimination
Laws Against Housing Discrimination

Laws Against Housing Discrimination

Federal Law State Law What is Prohibited? Special Provisions for People with Disabilities Discrimination against Families with Children Exemptions to the Fair Housing Act Enforcement Provisions and Penalties for Violations of the Law

Federal law restricts discrimination in the leasing, sale, advertising and financing of housing on the basis of your race, color, religious beliefs, gender, national origin, family status, i.e., pregnancy or having custody of a child under age 18 or disability. Maryland and numerous of its regional jurisdictions have at least similar laws, in addition to extra securities.
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The nationwide policy against housing discrimination is specified in the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. In addition, there are provisions in the Civil liberty Act of 1866 which the Supreme Court of the United States has actually translated as forbiding "all racial discrimination, personal in addition to public, in the sale or leasing of residential or commercial property." Unlike the 1968 law, the 1866 law consists of no exceptions and no limit on the amount of damages which can be awarded to a complainant.

Who is Protected?

The federal Fair Housing Act is consisted of in Title VIII of the Civil Liberty Act of 1968. It was changed in 1974 and again in 1978. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination versus an individual who falls in any of the following seven groups. Anyone treated unfairly since of: race, color, religion, nationwide origin, sex, households with kids and people with specials needs (handicap). These seven groups are considered "secured classes" under the Act and its amendments. "Protected classes" indicate the classifications of discrimination that are covered by the law.

Read the Law: The Fair Housing Act of 1968 (42 USC 3601, et seq.)

The courts have actually said that Maryland's law is "significantly equivalent" to the federal law. In two important respects, Maryland offers more security. First, Maryland expands on the protected classes of the federal law. You can not be victimized because of your marital status, gender recognition, sexual orientation, or income source.

Marital status is specified as "the state of being single, married, apart, separated or widowed." "Sexual orientation" means the recognition of a specific regarding male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. Gender identity is to imply the gender associated identity, look, expression, or behavior of a person, despite the individual's appointed sex at birth. In addition, there is a limitation to the exemption for rooms or systems in a residence in which the owner occupies an unit as his/her primary residence. In Maryland, these owners might turn down somebody based on sex, sexual preference, gender identity or marital status. However, they can not discriminate versus someone because of his/her race, color, religion, family status, national origin, disability, or income.

Read the Law: Md. Code, State Government, § 20-101, 20-704, 20-705

Local jurisdictions (such as the counties or towns) also safeguard all of the groups covered by federal and state law and frequently consist of extra categories such as age (in Baltimore City, 18 or older), sexual orientation, occupation and income. See local law posts.

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to dedicate any of the following acts versus a person who falls within any of the groups protected by the law.

Sale or Rental of Residential Real Estate - Refuse to offer, lease or otherwise make not available or deny any house