Discrimination in housing

Also in
Show Endnotes
By
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Reviewed
Reviewed
Text

Laws that protect you against discrimination are called fair housing laws.

Answering these 3 questions will help you know if someone discriminated against you:  

  1. Am I protected from discrimination by the fair housing laws?
  2. Is the housing I want to rent or buy covered by the fair housing laws?
  3. Is the behavior of the landlord, manager, or other person illegal under the law?

If your answer is yes to all 3 questions, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself.  

If you have a physical or mental disability, you may have additional rights and be entitled to reasonable accommodations. For more see: Discrimination Based on Disability

Widgets
What are examples of discrimination?

Examples of discrimination include:

  • A property agent shows you apartments in one neighborhood and not another because of your race. 
  • A landlord refuses to rent to you because you have a Section 8 voucher.
  • A landlord makes an inappropriate comment about your gender, ethnicity, religion, or disability.
  • A landlord, owner, manager, or employee sexually harasses you.  
  • You have young children, and a landlord tells you they cannot rent to you because the apartment has lead paint.
Am I protected under the fair housing laws?

Fair housing laws protect you if someone discriminates against you because of your:

  • Race.
  • Color.
  • National origin or ancestry.
  • Gender.
  • Sexual orientation.
  • Gender identity.
  • Religion.
  • Age – if you are 18 or older.
  • Family status – because you are pregnant or have kids.
  • Income – because you get welfare.
  • Housing subsidy – because you have a voucher, like Section 8.
  • A physical or mental disability.
  • Marital status – because you are married or not married.
  • Veteran status – because you are or were in the military.
Do the fair housing laws apply to my type of housing?

The laws protect against discrimination in most rental housing and some types of temporary residences. This includes houses, apartments, mobile homes, condominiums, cooperatives, and others.

No landlord of any size building can discriminate based on race, receipt of public assistance, or receipt of a housing subsidy. And no landlord of any size building can make discriminatory statements.  

But, other times, your rights depend on the size of your building:  

  • State fair housing laws do not protect tenants in or applicants to buildings with only 2 apartments if the landlord lives there.
  • Federal fair housing laws do not protect tenants in or applicants to buildings with 4 apartments or less if the landlord lives there. 
What steps can I take to protect myself against discrimination?

There are steps you can take to protect yourself, from answering all questions truthfully to asking the landlord certain questions. For specifics, see Protection Against Discrimination.

What steps can I take to protect myself if I have a physical or mental disability?

If you have a disability, you may be able to get what is called a “reasonable accommodation” or “reasonable modification.” Accommodations and modifications are where the landlord makes changes to policies, services, or even the physical structure of an apartment so that you can have the full use of your home. 

For more information and sample forms, see: Reasonable Accommodations

Can I be discriminated against if I have a housing voucher?

No. A landlord or a real estate agent cannot treat you differently because you have a rental voucher or receive public assistance, like welfare or medical assistance. It is also illegal to deny an applicant with a voucher because of the requirements of the voucher program – for example, to refuse to rent to you because your voucher program requires an inspection or a year-long lease.  

What can I do if I have been discriminated against?

If you feel that you have been discriminated against by a real estate agent, a landlord, or a landlord's employee, it is important to act quickly. There are steps that you can take and organizations that may be able to help you. See Steps to take against discrimination.

This article is an overview. For more detailed information, see Legal Tactics, Chapter 7: Discrimination. If you live in public housing, see Public Housing: Reasonable Accommodations.

Feedback

Was this page helpful?