Texas Tenant Advisor

• Home
  • Rights
    • Application deposit
    • Discrimination
      • - Disabilities
      • - Families with children
      • - Complant process
      • --Statutes
      • ---Forms
    • Eviction
    • House rules
    • Landlord took property
    • Late fees
    • Lease
    • Locked out
    • Locks and security
    • Mobile homes
    • Privacy
    • Rent
    • Repairs
    • Retaliation
    • Roommates
    • Security deposit
    • Smoke detectors
    • Subleasing
    • Termination
    • Utilities
    • Who owns the property
  • Fight back
  • Prevention

The Texas Tenant Advisor is intended to provide general information regarding Texas residential tenancies only.

Unique facts can render some statements inapplicable to a given situation.

We attempt to provide current information; nonetheless, you are urged to consult an attorney for legal advice and assistance.

This web site is a public service of the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service.

Fair Housing Act overview

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:

* Race or color
* National origin
* Religion
* Sex
* Familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents;or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custodyof children under 18)
* Handicap (Disability)

Sometimes city ordinances can provide more protection than the federal or state acts, so check with your city to find out what is covered. For example, the federal and state acts do not provide protection for discrimination based upon marital status or sexual orientation, but some cities in Texas might provide this protection in their ordinances.

What housing is covered?

The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, a landlord that has only a few single-family homes that were sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

What is prohibited?

In the Sale and Rental of Housing: No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap:

Refuse to rent or sell housing
* Refuse to negotiate for housing
* Make housing unavailable
* Deny a dwelling
* Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
* Provide different housing services or facilities
* Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
* For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
* Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing.

In Addition: It is illegal for anyone to:
* Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
* Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Continue on to discrimination against tenants with disabilities.

(source: www.hud.gov)