In 1968, the Federal Fair Housing Act was created to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin. To be in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, I am not to provide information that may discriminate against any of these protected classes.
For example, as a Realtor, I am not to answer questions about the racial or religeous make up of a community. Here is a scenario provided in Alison Clarke’s article What are Realtors’ Duties to Clients:
…if a Muslim person asks a Realtor to find a home close to a mosque in a certain community, the Realtor cannot accommodate the request. The Realtor also can’t take into consideration the request to be located near a mosque. The Realtor can’t even advertise that a listing is around the corner from a mosque.
When working with a Realtor, you should be aware that we are not to entertain requests that violate the Federal Fair Housing Act in any way. Here is an excerpt from 8 Tips for Fair Housing Compliance on Realtor.org:
You can’t control the prejudices of others, but discriminating in any way, even at the request of a seller, is illegal. If a seller wants you to discriminate, walk away from the transaction.
In addition to protecting the designated classes (race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin), Realtors are not to discuss the crime statistics of a neighborhood. Questions about crime statistics and neighborhood safety are best directed toward the local police department and governing agencies.
For more information on the Fair Housing Act, Visit the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Website.
