Often when it comes to choosing a home there are several things that you need to consider. For example, the fair housing laws in your area, the available housing options, and the customer service that you can expect. In this article, we’ll discuss these three things, as well as the importance of customer service and equality of opportunity.
Fair Housing principles
Having a home is a major part of the American Dream. Homeownership brings freedom from renting, and it also brings greater security. In addition, home appreciation gives long-term financial security. With a better home, you also get better schools and higher standards of living.
Housing discrimination has been an issue in the United States for decades. In the mid-1800s, there were attempts to combat discrimination in the real estate industry. These attempts included the Rumford Fair Housing Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that most housing discrimination was unlawful.
Discrimination is the practice of denying a dwelling because of race, gender, national origin, or sex. The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits unlawful discrimination in real estate transactions. It also proscribes discrimination against individuals with handicaps. It is also unlawful to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation. It also prohibits discrimination against families with children.
Equality of opportunity
Several different conceptions of equality of opportunity can be considered. This suggests a complicated task when assessing the effectiveness of affirmative action programs in different societies.
The simplest definition of the concept of equality of opportunity is a requirement that all members of a society have access to opportunities that confer an advantage. In other words, all members of society have the right to apply for jobs that provide an opportunity for advancement.
The most obvious equality of opportunity in a political sense involves all members of a society participating in the voting process. It also involves all long-term residents becoming citizens. This might be done by electing influential officials. It could also involve a society having fair competition for jobs and other advantages.
Fair housing laws
Whether you’re a landlord, a property manager, or a tenant, you need to be aware of fair housing laws in your state. If you feel that you’ve been the victim of housing discrimination, HUD can help. There are federal and state laws that protect certain groups, such as the disabled and minorities. You can file a discrimination complaint by downloading a form on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, familial status, age, or sexual orientation. Housing providers must provide reasonable accommodations. These can include changes in rules, practices, and policies. They must be willing to offer a reasonable modification to an applicant who is disabled.
A court order may enjoin a defendant from engaging in discriminatory housing practices. The order may be based on affirmative action or a temporary restraining order. It may also award actual damages to the plaintiff.
