Fair Housing

The FAIR HOUSING ACT
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Title VIII was ended in 1988 (effective March 12, 1989) by the Fair Housing Amendments Act, which:

• expanded the coverage of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on disability or on familial status (presence of child under age of 18, and pregnant women);
• established new administrative enforcement mechanisms with HUD attorneys bringing actions before administrative law judges on behalf of victims of housing discrimination;
• and revised and expanded Justice Department jurisdiction to bring suit on behalf of victims in Federal district courts.

Everyone with the Get Home Denver Team fully abide by, and support FAIR HOUSING laws.

Below, I’ve included an overview of our policies towards fair housing.  If you would like to review our FULL Fair Housing position and policy, please feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to forward you a copy via email.

During the conduct of business, no salesperson or employee should make any statement (either directly or otherwise) or perform any act which could have the effect of:

• Implying that the presence or anticipated presence in a neighborhood of persons of any protected class will or may have results such as:
  • Lowering of property values
  • Changing the composition of the block or neighborhood
  • Making the area less safe
  • Contributing to a decline in the quality of the schools
• Implying that persons of a protected class will be less able to obtain financing on a property.
• Implying that we, as salespersons and employees, adhere to stereotypes that might result in different treatment in dealing with protected classes in the sale or purchase of property including:
  • Telling racial/ethnic jokes
  • Making derogatory remarks to anyone or about anyone
• Fair housing laws should be discussed with a seller at the time listing. The seller’s unequivocal commitment to abide by the law should be obtained.
• Any seller who refuses to abide by the law and whose listing was therefore refused by the salesperson, or any seller who makes a home unavailable for showing to an individual of a protected class, should be reported immediately to the principal broker or manager.
• Discriminatory acts or statements on the part of the seller in rejecting or countering an offer should be reported immediately to the broker or manager. Proper guidance in what to relay back to the buyer should be obtained prior to delivery of the rejection or counter-offer by checking with your broker or manager.
• CONSISTENT qualifying techniques should be used with all buyers and adequate records should be maintained by salespersons to demonstrate that all buyers are asked the same questions and given equal treatment.
• No salesperson shall refuse to list or show a property in a given market area because of the presence/absence of a protected class.
• All salespersons and employees shall provide equal service without regard to buyer’s/seller’s race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, ancestry, creed or marital status. Areas of service where the potential for inconsistent treatment exists includes (but are not limited to) the following:
  • Greeting when entering or calling the office.
  • Acts of courtesy and hospitality
  • Initial meeting to discuss needs
  • Qualifying and financing information asked and given
  • Personal information required
  • Availability and quality of properties shown
  • Follow-up procedures
  • Method of determining which properties to show
• Salespersons and employees will be equally cooperative with all brokers and agents when setting up showings, making keys available, setting appointments to present offers, conducting negotiations, etc.
• Salespersons will offer to show all properties available in a market area within a buyer’s price range and objective criteria without regard to individuals who may be in a protected class.

Other Sources for Fair Housing Information:

HUD Official Website: http://www.hud.gov/groups/fairhousing.cfm

http://consumerlawpage.com/brochure/fair-hse.shtml