Fair Housing

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. I CONDUCT MY REAL ESTATE BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT, MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, AND ARTICLE 10 OF THE REALTOR® CODE OF ETHICS.

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to buy, sell, rent, and finance a home. This page explains the fair housing laws that protect you, what they mean when we work together, and how to file a complaint if you believe your rights have been violated. It is general information, and it is not legal advice.

The federal Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing, in mortgage lending and housing assistance, and in other housing related activities because of:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status, meaning the presence of children under 18 in a household
• Disability

Michigan law protects more

Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act reaches further than federal law. In a real estate transaction, a real estate broker or salesperson may not discriminate on the basis of:

• Religion
• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Age
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity or expression
• Familial status
• Marital status

The same law also prohibits misrepresenting that a property is unavailable, failing to bring a listing to a person’s attention on any of these grounds, and publishing any advertisement that signals a preference for some buyers or renters over others. For rental housing, it protects otherwise eligible tenants from discrimination based on their source of income, including rent vouchers, subsidies, and emergency rental assistance.

A separate Michigan statute, the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, prohibits discrimination in real estate transactions on the basis of disability.

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics

As a REALTOR®, I am also bound by Article 10 of the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics, which states:

“REALTORS® SHALL NOT DENY EQUAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO ANY PERSON FOR REASONS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR GENDER IDENTITY.”

Article 10 also prohibits REALTORS® from being party to any plan or agreement to discriminate on any of those grounds. This obligation applies to every REALTOR® in every transaction, whatever the law of the state.

What this means when we work together

You receive equal professional service, every time. I show you properties that fit the criteria you give me, such as price, location, size, and features. Where you choose to live is your decision, and my job is to support it. If you ask me to include or exclude properties or neighborhoods based on a protected characteristic, I will decline, because the law and my Code of Ethics both require me to.

I serve clients in English and Chinese. You receive the same professional service in either language.

How to file a housing discrimination complaint

You can file a complaint directly with either agency below. You do not need to be my client, and you do not need a lawyer to file.

Federal: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity investigates complaints under the Fair Housing Act. Time limits apply, so report as soon as possible after the event.

• Online: hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination
• Phone: 1-800-669-9777

State: Michigan Department of Civil Rights

MDCR accepts complaints of unlawful discrimination filed within 180 days of the event.

• Online: michigan.gov/mdcr, then choose File a Complaint
• Phone: 1-800-482-3604

Questions about this page

If you have a question about this page, or about fair housing in a transaction we are working on together, please get in touch.