WHAT ARE YOUR HOUSING RIGHTS?

WHAT IS THE FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1988?

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (U.S. Code, Title 42, Section 3604) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in a variety of housing settings. It includes requiring housing providers to honor requests for reasonable accommodations in residency rules or procedures, or to allow reasonable modifications to the physical structure of a building to meet the needs of residents with disabilities. The law also requires new construction of dwellings with four or more units to include features such as accessible routes and doorways, reinforced walls for subsequent installation of grab bars, accessible electrical outlets and thermostats, and kitchens and bathrooms that accommodate wheelchairs.

WHAT IT DOES:

Extends civil rights protection in the housing area to people with disabilities.
Requires landlords to treat people with disabilities just as they treat everyone else.
Prohibits landlords from asking questions of current tenants or rental applicants about their age, health, or ability to live independently, unless this information is necessary for a special program.
Requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations (changes) to rules and procedures, and to allow reasonable modifications to the premises, to meet the needs of tenants with disabilities. The tenant usually pays for modifications to his/her unit.

WHAT IT DOES NOT DO:

Does not apply to rental buildings with fewer than four units, where the owner also lives in the building.
Does not require a landlord to rent to current users of illegal drugs, or those with a conviction for illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance.
Does not require a landlord to rent to a person who is a threat to the safety or health of other tenants, or whose tenancy would result in substantial damage to the property of others.
Does not require a landlord to provide services to a tenant with disabilities, unless the housing program already includes services.
Does not require a landlord to change the basic nature of the housing program.

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