Property owners and managers are subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which
prohibits "any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make
such preference, limitation or discrimination."
Bigos Management, Inc supports Equal Housing Opportunity and we encourage users
of our site to follow appropriate guidelines to comply with both the Federal Housing
Act, as well as any applicable state and local regulations. All renters are hereby
informed that all property rental offers are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Property Owner's & Manager's Responsibilities
As a property owner or manager you have a responsibility and a requirement under
the law not to discriminate in the rental of property on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot instruct
your agent to convey on your behalf any limitations in the rental because your agent
is bound by law not to discriminate. Agents in a rental transaction are prohibited
by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,
familial status, or national origin. They are prohibited from complying with a request
from the property owner or manager to act in a discriminatory manner in the lease
or rental. Moreover, a property owner or manager cannot establish discriminatory
terms or conditions in the purchase or rental, deny that housing is available, or
advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national original.
Renter's Rights
As someone seeking to rent an apartment, home or condo, you have the right to expect
that housing will be available to you without discrimination or other limitations
based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
This includes the right to expect equal professional service, the opportunity to
consider a broad range of housing choices, no discriminatory limitations on communities
or locations of housing, no discrimination in the pricing or financing of housing,
reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities,
and to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing
rights.
The Law
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or
rental of property.
The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United
States, making illegal any discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of housing,
or making housing otherwise unavailable, because of race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against
persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial facilities.
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any
aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant's income derives
from any public assistance program.
State and Local Laws
State and local laws often provide broader coverage and prohibit discrimination
based on additional classes not covered by federal law.
IF YOU SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION
Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
You can contact HUD on the Internet at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm.