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Housing Consumers

Important Information for Housing Consumers

The federal Fair Housing Act protects individuals and families from discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing, and in other housing-related transactions such as home appraisals and homeowners insurance, based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.

People with disabilities are also entitled to request reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications when necessary to allow equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling.

Top Topics for Housing Consumers

Fair Housing or Landlord Tenant?

Fair Housing Laws prohibit housing discrimination based on certain protected classes. Landlord-Tenant Law governs the elements in a contractual lease agreement and the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants with regard to residential rentals.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Accommodations are changes in rules, policies, practices, or procedures that enable a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

Source of Income

Source of income discrimination is a refusal to consider certain types of lawful income in qualifying a person for housing. Some situations where housing providers refuse to accept certain types of non-employment income are considered illegal discrimination under fair housing laws.

Criminal Records

Criminal records must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Blanket bans are not permissible and housing providers must consider the severity, nature and recency of the criminal record.

Families with Children

It is unlawful to discriminate against families with children under the age of 18, adults seeking custody of a child, or due to pregnancy in housing related transactions.

Assistance Animals

Individuals with disabilities who need an assistance animal due to a disability-related need can request a reasonable accommodation to be exempted from normal pet policies.

Do you think you have experienced housing discrimination or a violation of fair housing laws?

Report Discrimination

Know Your Rights

Renters in Pennsylvania have rights under fair housing laws and Pennsylvania  Landlord-Tenant Law. To learn more about your rights as a Renter in Pennsylvania, click the button below.
Renter's Rights

Learn more about the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania

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  • 866-540-FAIR
  • 267-419-8918
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