Fair Housing Act

Quick Takeaways for the Fair Housing Act

  • The Fair Housing Act protects homebuyers from discrimination as they get a mortgage, rent a home, buy a home, seek housing assistance, or participate in other housing-related activities.
  • The Fair Housing Act prevents discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or familial status. 
  • REALTORS® can reference NAR's Code of Ethics for information on upholding fair housing ideals. 

NAR opposes discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. This policy is embodied in NAR's Code of Ethics. NAR also authorizes sanctions in response to a finding that a member has violated any fair housing law, including local and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. NAR policy is to support equal opportunity on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and the NAR Code of Ethics was amended in 2010 and 2013, to include this updated policy in the Code of Ethics.

On November 13, 2020, NAR's Board of Directors strengthened REALTORS®’ commitment to upholding fair housing ideals, approving a series of recommendations from NAR’s Professional Standards Committee that extend the application of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics to discriminatory speech and conduct outside of members’ real estate practices.

In February 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will enforce the sex discrimination provision of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. NAR applauds this move by HUD to effectively expand civil rights protections to LGBTQ Americans seeking housing and housing-related services.

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