Do you think illegal housing discrimination may have occurred?

You may not be denied or treated differently in the rental, sale, lending, or insuring of housing anywhere in Virginia on the basis of any of the following (called protected classes):

• Race (any race)
• Color (any color)
• Religion (any religion or no religion)
• National Origin (any nationality)
• Sex (gender)
• Disability (handicap) (see our guide to reasonable accomodations and modifications)
• The presence of children under 18 in the family or for being pregnant (learn more)
• Because you are fifty five or older

Some localities have added other protected classes to this list, such as source of income, marital status, or sexual orientation. If you believe you are having problems for one of these or other reasons, we'll help you find out whether what is occurring is unlawful.

• Someone is refusing to sell or rent on the basis of one of the characteristics listed above.
• You think you are being offered different terms to buy or rent than the terms offered to others. For example, you may believe you are being charged more, or given access to fewer services.
• You are being given only limited choices of places to live. For instance, you are shown houses in one neighborhood, or one part of a subdivision, or you are discouraged from looking in certain areas.
• You think a house or apartment is really available, but you are being told that it isn't.
• A housing provider indicates that providing sexual favors will get you a better deal; or creates a climate where you are afraid of being sexually harassed.
• A lender refuses to give you a mortgage or charges you more because of your race, or because you are expecting a child, or because of the location of the house or because of any of the other characteristics listed above.
• A homeowners' insurance company won't give you good insurance (or any insurance) because your house was built before a certain date, or has value below a certain minimum.
• An insurance company won't sell insurance because of where the house is located.
• The insurance company refuses coverage or wants to charge you more for insurance because of your credit score.
• The rent or deposit cited is higher than advertised.
• The manager says the unit has already been rented but the sign or ad is still posted.
• Rules are enforced or repairs are performed for some tenants and not others.
• Limiting the number of children in a complex or confining them to a specific location or floor.
• Charging a higher deposit to people of different national origins.
• Refusing to rent to a person using a wheelchair for fear a unit might be damaged.
• Refusing to allow a person with a disability to reside with their service animal or charging you because you need that animal.
• Refusing to rent to someone just because of their race or color or national origin.
• Publishing advertisements which limit or deny housing due to a protected basis.
• The rates or fees on a mortgage are different from what was originally stated or promised.
• A homeowner’s or condo association instituting a policy of no one 18 or under.
• If you have a disability,
  • You are asked about it when you are looking into housing (unless they need to know to make sure you qualify for a special program)
  • You are not allowed to make reasonable modifications if you need them in order to have full access (such as installing a ramp).
  • The housing provider refuses to make reasonable changes in policies or procedures to accommodate your disability, such as allowing you to have a service animal.
  • You want to rent a unit in a building that opened after 1991 and it's not accessible

There are also legitimate reasons to refuse to rent or sell a dwelling or make a loan, such as inadequate and stable income or poor credit history; or to refuse to sell you insurance, such as the condition of your house.

You don't need to know that illegal discrimination has occurred. If you think it has occurred, contact us if you live in Virginia.  We'll help you check it out, and we'll make sure you know your rights.

Conatact our Center for Housing Advocacy (Fair Housing) Staff: