Kim Blanton

Equal Housing Opportunity

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 , also known as the Fair Housing Act was enacted to ensure fair  and equal housing throughout the United States and to stop discrimination in regards to housing.

The law provides that the purchase, exchange, or rental of real estate is available regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or ancestry, families with children or people with disabilities.  It is illegal for anyone to discriminate against someone and deny housing to these protected classes or to steer a person to a certain neighborhood and away from others.

Additionally, the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA) made several changes to the 55 and older exemption. Since the 1988 Amendments, the Fair Housing Act has exempted from its familial status provisions properties that satisfy the Act’s 55 and older housing condition.

Exemption requirements for senior housing state that the development must have one person who is 55 years of age or older living in each home and at least 80 percent of its occupied units. It also still requires that senior housing publish and follow policies and procedures that demonstrate an intent to be housing for persons 55 and older.  An exempt property will not violate the Fair Housing Act if it includes families with children, but it does not have to do so.

If you would like additional information on fair housing and your rights, you can visit the HUD website

For more information on homes for sale in Middle Tennessee