Fair Housing Rights to Protect you under The Law

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The federal Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Liberty Act of 1968, was meant to secure the buyer/renter of a home from seller/landlord discrimination. The law was the result of a civil liberties campaign against housing discrimination in the United States. It was authorized, at the advising of President Lyndon B. Johnson, only one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

. The Act is imposed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD takes a look at complaints of housing discrimination based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. At no charge to you, HUD will explore the problem and try to deal with the matter with both parties. The process to submit a problem is covered below.

NOTE: If you want to find out more about your rights as a renter in Kansas, read this Kansas Tenant Handbook. It was initially published by the Kansas company Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI), which assists people in Kansas with a range of consumer issues.

Here is a video to reveal how the Fair Housing Act secures you from discrimination on the basis of LGBTQ status.

This video speak about discrimination in Idaho, however it likewise applies to Kansas and other states also. If you feel you have actually been a victim of housing discrimination because of LGBTQ status, you can make an application for assistance from KLS online or call the application line at 316-267-3975. Or you can find out how to file a complaint directly with HUD by going here.

What Housing Is Covered?

The Fair Housing Act covers most housing In some cases, the Act excuses owner-occupied buildings without any more than 4 systems, single-family housing sold or leased without a broker, and housing operated by companies and personal clubs that limit occupancy to members.

What Is Prohibited?

In the Sale and Rental of Housing: Nobody might take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, sex, familial status or handicap:

- Refuse to lease or sell housing

Refuse to plan on housing.
Make housing unavailable
Deny a dwelling
Set various terms, conditions or opportunities for sale or rental of a house
Provide various housing services or centers
Falsely reject that housing is open for evaluation, sale, or rental
For revenue, convince owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
Deny anybody access to or subscription in a facility or service (such as a several listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

In Mortgage Lending: Nobody may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap (disability):

- Refuse to make a mortgage loan
Refuse to provide details about loans
Impose various terms or conditions on a loan, such as various rate of interest, points, or charges
Discriminate in evaluating residential or commercial property
Refuse to buy a loan or
Set different terms or conditions for acquiring a loan.

In Addition: It is illegal for anyone to:

- Threaten, coerce, bully or hinder anybody applying a fair housing right or helping others who work out that right
Advertise or make any declaration that suggests a cap or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This bar versus discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Additional Protection if You Have an Impairment

If you or somebody connected with you:

- Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, movement and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, persistent mental disorder, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that considerably limits one or more significant life activities
Have a record of such a disability or
Are considered having such a special needs

Your property owner may not:

- Refuse to let you make reasonable changes to your house or common usage areas, at your expense, if required for the disabled individual to use the housing. (Where rational, the proprietor may permit changes only if you accept restore the residential or commercial property to its original condition when you move.).
Refuse to make reasonable variations in guidelines, policies, practices or services if required for the handicapped individual to use the housing.

Example: A structure with a policy should permit an aesthetically impaired occupant to keep a guide pet dog.

Example: Let's say an apartment or condo complex uses occupants sufficient, unassigned parking. They should honor a bid from a mobility-impaired renter for a reserved space near her home if it is needed to ensure that she can have access to her house.

However, housing need not be made uninhabited to a person who is a direct danger to the health or security of others or who now utilizes unlawful drugs.

Requirements for New Buildings

In buildings that were ready for first use after March 13, 1991, and have an elevator and 4 or more units:

- Public and common areas should come in handy to individuals with impairments.
Doors and corridors should be wide enough for wheelchairs.
All units should have: - An accessible path into and through the system.
Handy light switches, electric outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls.
Reinforced bathroom walls to allow later on fitting of grab bars and.
Bathroom and kitchens that can be utilized by people in wheelchairs.

If a building with four or more systems has no elevator and were prepared for very first usage after March 13, 1991, these standards apply to ground floor units.

These must-haves for brand-new buildings do not change any more strict standards in State or local law.

Housing Opportunities for Families

Unless a structure or community qualifies as housing for older persons, it might not discriminate based upon familial status. That is, it might not victimize families in which one or more kids under 18 cope with:

- A parent.
A person who has legal custody of the kid or children or.
The designee of the parent or legal custodian, with the moms and dad or custodian's written approval.

Familial status protection likewise applies to pregnant ladies and anyone securing legal custody of a kid under 18.

Exemption: Housing for older persons is exempt from the restriction versus familial status discrimination if:

- The HUD Secretary has chosen that it is specifically developed for and occupied by elderly individuals under a Federal, State or regional federal government program or.
It is occupied exclusively by persons who are 62 or older or.
It houses a minimum of a single person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units. It should also adhere to a policy that demonstrates an intent to house individuals who are 55 or older.

A shift duration allows citizens on or before September 13, 1988, to continue residing in the housing, despite their age, without interfering with the exemption.

If you believe your rights have actually been broken ... The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a Kansas or local reasonable housing firm is ready to assist you submit a complaint, or you can look for legal help from KLS online or call the application line at 1-800-723-6953. Go on the internet to HUD to discover how to file a problem.

What to Tell HUD

- Your name and address.
The name and address of the individual your grievance is against (the respondent).
The address or other description of the housing involved.
A brief description of the supposed infraction (the occasion that caused you to think your rights were broken).
The date of the supposed infraction

Where to Write or Call:

Send a letter to the reasonable housing workplace closest you, or if you want, you may call that office directly.

Great Plains Office-- Fair Housing Hub

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

Gateway Tower II, 400 State Avenue, Room 200, fourth Floor,

Kansas City, KS 66101-2406

Telephone (913) 551-6958 or 1-800-743-5323

Fax (913) 551-6856
tamresidential.com
TTY (913) 551-6972

E-mail: Complaints_office_07@hud.gov!.?.! Check out our pages on Resolving legal
barriers to work and housing and Facts about record expungement in Kansas. Check out Tenant concerns and rights for Kansas renters Plain text -No HTML tags enabled.- Lines and paragraphs break instantly.- Websites addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.