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 forbids discrimination in the leasing, sale, advertising and funding of housing on the basis of your race, color, faith, gender, nationwide origin, household status, i.e., pregnancy or having custody of a kid under age 18 or impairment. Maryland and much of its regional jurisdictions have at least similar laws, along with extra defenses.

The nationwide policy versus housing discrimination is defined in the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. In addition, there are arrangements in the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which the Supreme Court of the United States has translated as forbiding "all racial discrimination, private along with public, in the sale or rental of residential or commercial property." Unlike the 1968 law, the 1866 law contains no exceptions and no limitation on the quantity of damages which can be granted to a plaintiff.

Who is Protected?

The federal Fair Housing Act is consisted of in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. It was changed in 1974 and again in 1978. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination against an individual who falls in any of the following 7 groups. Anyone dealt with unfairly due to the fact that of: race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, sex, households with children and people with specials needs (handicap). These seven groups are thought about "protected classes" under the Act and its amendments. "Protected classes" indicate the categories 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 stated that Maryland's law is "considerably comparable" to the federal law. In two important aspects, Maryland provides more security. First, Maryland broadens on the secured classes of the federal law. You can not be victimized since of your marital status, gender recognition, sexual orientation, or income source.

Marital status is specified as "the state of being single, married, separated, separated or widowed." "Sexual orientation" indicates the recognition of a private as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. Gender identity is defined to mean the gender associated identity, look, expression, or habits of a person, despite the person's designated sex at birth. In addition, there is a limitation to the exemption for spaces or systems in a residence in which the owner inhabits a system as his/her principal home. In Maryland, these owners might refuse somebody based upon sex, sexual preference, gender identity or marital status. However, they can not victimize somebody since of his/her race, color, faith, household status, nationwide origin, special needs, or income.

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

Local jurisdictions (such as the counties or towns) likewise secure all of the groups covered by federal and state law and often include extra classifications such as age (in Baltimore City, 18 or older), sexual preference, occupation and income source. See local law short articles.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to commit any of the following acts against a person who falls within any of the groups protected by the law.

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