Fair Housing

The Federal Fair Housing Act guarantees everyone the right to free choice in housing. It prohibits discrimination in housing for any of the following protected classes.

Race or color
National origin
Religion
Sex or Gender
Familial status
Disability
Retaliation

The following actions are illegal if committed against someone based solely on their membership in a protected class:

• Refusing to rent or sell a house
• Refusing to negotiate for housing
• Setting different terms, conditions, and/or privileges for sale or rental of housing
• Providing different housing services and/or facilities
• Falsifying information about housing
• Denying access to or membership in a facility or service related to the sale or rental of housing
• Denying housing
• " Blockbusting": encouraging for profit, any person to sell or rent a dwelling under the misrepresentation that members of protected classes are moving into their vicinity, causing negative effects.
• Making, printing and/or publishing a discriminatory advertisement.
• Refusing to make a mortgage loan
• Refusing to provide information regarding loans
• Imposing different terms and/or conditions on a loan
• Setting different terms and/or conditions for purchasing a loan
• Discriminating in appraising property
• Refusing to purchase a loan
  

It is illegal to harass, intimidate, threaten, or use violence against a person who has exercised their right to fair housing under The Federal Fair Housing Act. No one may use these tactics against you including your:

• Landlord or their employees
• Neighbors
• Strangers

The Federal Fair Housing Act also protects your family, friends, and visitors from these types of behaviors. Please note that the information above is descriptive of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

The city you live in may also have local ordinances that include additional protected classes and other jurisdictions. If you feel that your rights have been violated or have any questions about Fair Housing, contact the agency that is appropriate for you. They will assist you in filing a complaint and throughout the ensuing process.

Statewide Contacts:

US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (HUD)
909 1st Ave., Suite 205 Seattle, WA 98104-1000
(206) 220-5170

1-800-877-0246

TYY (206) 220-5158
www.hud.gov/local/sea/seafhome.html

Washington State Human Rights Commission
1511 Third Ave., Suite 523 Seattle, WA 98101-1508

Seattle (206) 464-6500 TTY (206) 587-5168
Olympia (800) 233-3247
www.wa.gov/hrc

The following agency advocates for fair housing, provides training and education/outreach:

Fair Housing Center of Washington

1517 S. Fawcett, Suite 250

Tacoma, WA  98402

253.274.9523 V/TTY

888.766.8800 toll-free

email: info@fhcwashington.org