The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States. This law makes 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.
The Federal Fair Housing Law of 1968, also known as Title VIII, states the following:
Prohibits discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of property based upon race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Bars panic peddling, the attempt to generate listings by representing a present or prospective racial change in an area.
Outlaws harassment against minority buyers or real estate agents or sellers exercising their fair housing rights and responsibilities.
In 1988, the Fair Housing Amendments Act amends Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. First, the amendments add discrimination based on handicap and familial status. In addition, the amendments change the way in which Title VIII is enforced and the penalties that can be imposed for a violation. The laws of the State of North Carolina basically affirm the federal laws.
The REALTOR’S responsibilities:
Advise sellers and buyers of fair housing responsibilities.
Avoid statements or actions that may be construed as panic peddling.
Provide equal professional service to all prospects.
Offer to show all properties within a buyer’s price range, to avoid tendency to steer.
Refrain from providing information about an area’s racial composition that may discourage consideration by a prospective buyer.
Avoid marketing practices that have the effect of promoting racial segregation or retarding integration.
Refuse to facilitate real estate transactions where conditions or terms are changed, or access is denied on the basis of race, color, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
Present and advertise properties as available to all persons, regardless of race.
