Fair Housing Month: Know Your Rights

HOUSTON, TX – April is National Fair Housing Month, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council urges all residents, both home buyers and renters, to be aware of their rights under the Fair Housing acts.

The Texas Fair Housing Act and the federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) protect Texans from discriminatory housing practices. These protections apply to the sale, rental, and financing of homes, as well as the purchase of insurance.

Discrimination is prohibited based on:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Physical or mental disability
• Familial status (including pregnant women and households with children under 18)

What does this mean?

The following actions in the sale or rental of housing or mortgage lending violate the Federal and Texas Fair Housing Acts when based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.

In the Sale & Rental of Housing

• Refuse to rent or sell housing
• Refuse to negotiate for housing
• Advertise housing to preferred groups of people only
• Show apartments or homes in certain neighborhoods only
• Say that housing is unavailable for inspection, sale, or rental when in fact it is available
• Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for the sale or rental of a dwelling
• Provide different housing services or facilities
• Deny access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing
• Refusing reasonable accommodations or modifications for individuals with disabilities
  • This may include charging a pet fee for a service animal or denying a nearby parking space for someone with mobility needs

In Mortgage Lending

• Refuse to make a mortgage loan
• Refuse to provide information regarding loans
• Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees
• Deny property insurance
• Conduct property appraisals in a discriminatory manner
• Refuse to purchase a loan
• Set different terms and conditions for purchasing a loan

Know Your Rights & Take Action

If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, resources are available:

• Texas Fair Housing Act: Learn more from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
• Filing a Complaint: Find information on how to file a complaint under federal or state fair housing laws.