Housing discrimination continues in Northeast Ohio. People often don’t report it because they don’t know that fair housing is a civil right and that there is help available.
Who is protected?
- Federally Protected Classes:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)
- Disability
- Religion
- Familial Status (the presence of children under the age of 18)
- Additional Statewide Protections (Ohio):
- Ancestry
- Military Status
Some local laws also prohibit housing discrimination based on:
- Marital Status
- Creed
- Age
- Source of Income
Possible Signs of Discrimination
Comments like these can be signs of housing discrimination:
- “ Families with children can only live in the back of the complex.”
- “ I will have to charge you a pet deposit for your guide dog.”
- “You don’t want to live in that neighborhood.”
- “We only rent to people who speak English.”
What is Prohibited?
These actions are illegal if they are done because a person belongs to a protected class:
Rental and Sale of Housing:
- Refuse to rent or sell housing
- Refuse to negotiate for housing
- Make housing unavailable or otherwise restrict choice
- Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of housing
- Provide different housing services or facilities
- Falsely deny that housing is available
- Persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting)
- Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service related to the sale or rental of housing
- Retaliate against a person for making a fair housing complaint.
Mortgage Lending and Insurance:
- Refuse to make a mortgage loan or provide homeowners insurance
- Refuse to provide information regarding loans or insurance
- Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different rates, or fees
- Discriminate in appraising property
- Refuse to purchase a loan
- Set different terms or conditions to purchase a loan
It is also illegal for anyone to:
- Threaten, coerce, intimidate, or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right.
- Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on a protected class, such as “No Children,” or “Christians Only,” or “Prefer single female.”
Want to learn more? Enroll in an online course to expand your fair housing knowledge!
Fair Housing 101: Know Your Rights
Download Fair Housing Resources:
Download the “Know Your Rights” Brochure (PDF File)
Know Your Fair Housing Rights – Arabic
Know Your Fair Housing Rights – Simplified Chinese
Know Your Fair Housing Rights – Traditional Chinese (Taiwanese)
Know Your Fair Housing Rights – Spanish