April is Fair Housing Month!
April is Fair Housing Month! (I’m a licensed Fair Housing Instructor and I must say that Fair Housing is absolutely my favorite class to teach!) Why April? Well, two reasons. First, this is the month that Congress passed Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The second reason April is Fair Housing month actually triggered the passing of Title VIII. On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was 7 days later that Congress finally passed Title VIII which had been floundering in Congress for several months. Since 1968, other Fair Housing protected classes have been added.
Today we have 7 nationally protected classes – Familial Status, Race, Sex, Disability (Handicap), Color, Religion, and National Origin. In Virginia we have an additional protected class – Elderliness, which is defined as being 55 years old or older. Some Northern Virginia areas have protected other demographics. Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Fall Church City have protected children, marital status, ancestry, age and sexual orientation. No one can discriminate in housing based on race! No one! Period. (Refer to the Civil Rights Act of 1866 if you have any questions about this).
Fair Housing laws prevent a real estate licensee from discussing anything related to a protected class. This extends to discussing a licensees opinion on school systems and the best neighborhoods to live in.
So when do Fair Housing laws apply to the average consumer who does not have a real estate license? Remember, no one can discriminate based on race. It doesn’t matter who you are. If a consumer owns four or more properties, then Fair Housing laws apply. And, if a consumer hires a licensee, then Fair Housing laws apply.
