How Can I Identify Signs of Housing Discrimination?

There are rules meant to level the playing field and ensure that everyone has an equal shot at getting housing no matter what their background looks like. Unfortunately, some people still commit housing discrimination and make it more difficult for people to put a roof over their heads just because of something like their race or religion. This is illegal and should be reported any time it occurs. If you think that you have been the victim of housing discrimination, you should talk to a New York City tenants’ rights lawyer.

What Kinds of Qualities Does Housing Discrimination Often Target?

When a property is being rented out or sold, landlords, owners, or lending institutions are not supposed to consider factors like:

• Race or color
• Religion
• Sex, which includes gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation
• Disability
• National origin
• Family status, like whether or not you have children

Deciding whether or not to provide housing based on any of these characteristics is housing discrimination.

What Are Some Signs of Housing Discrimination?

It is rare that someone will come out and just say that you are being discriminated against based on race, disability, or another protected characteristic. If they do, keep a copy of that text or email because that’s the kind of evidence that any housing discrimination attorney would love to get their hands on!

Instead, housing providers or lenders will often do less obvious things to discriminate against certain people. Some common signs of discrimination include:

• Someone refusing to show you a certain property
• Being told that you would not be “comfortable” in a certain building or neighborhood
• Giving you different terms than another potential tenant or buyer for the same property
• Steering to certain neighborhoods
• Advertisements that say “no kids”
• Refusing to make reasonable modifications for someone with a disability

How Can I Report Housing Discrimination?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development takes complaints about housing discrimination. You can file a complaint online, over the phone, or through the mail, and there is assistance available if you have a disability or English is not your first language. Your complaint should include things like:

• Your name and address
• The name and address of the person or organization who committed the alleged discrimination
• The date of the alleged violation
• A description of what happened and why you think that your rights were violated

Do I Need a Lawyer?

Having a lawyer on your side can be helpful. An attorney can help you figure out if housing discrimination is the root of the problem here. Then they can help you file a complaint if necessary. It may be a good idea to at least meet with a housing lawyer for an initial consultation.

Contact Our Law Firm

When you believe that you have been discriminated against, contact Robert Rosenblatt & Associates. We can tell you more about what an attorney can do to help and if you will need assistance with your housing discrimination complaint.