Fair Housing

The Georgia Fair Housing Act was passed to ensure all Georgians can compete for housing within their economic means on a fair and equitable basis.  It prohibits discrimination in housing and housing-related activities because of disability, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or familial status.  

What is prohibited?

Some housing practices are considered illegal if based on a home seeker’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, or disability:

• Refusing to rent or sell a house.
• Falsely denying that a house is available for inspection, sale, or rent.
• Offering different terms, conditions, or privileges for certain people.
• Intimidating, interfering with, or coercing someone to prevent them from buying or leasing a dwelling.
• Advertising or posting notices, sale or rental, that indicate a preference, limitation, or discrimination.
• Discriminating through financing or broker’s services.
• “Steering” of clients by real estate agents to or from certain neighborhoods and of tenants by landlords to or from certain areas of the complex.

Have you been discriminated against under the Fair Housing Act?

If you think your fair housing rights have been violated, you may write, fax, or telephone your complaint to the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCEO) or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  You have a year to file, but you should file as soon as possible.

Include:

• Name & address
• Name & address of the person your complaint is against
• Address or other identification of the housing involved
• Short description of the incident
• Date(s) of the incident

You may also file a complaint online at www.HUD.gov. Once a complaint is filed, fair housing investigators will:

1. Investigate the complaint.
2. Collect relevant facts and data and interview parties and witnesses.
3. Assist both parties in reaching an agreement.
4. Make a determination based on the investigation findings.

If you need assistance, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Fair Housing Coordinator.