Fair Housing
What Is Housing Discrimination?
The Fair Housing Act requires that every housing provider offers services equally regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and familial size or relationship.
Who are Housing Providers?
Housing Providers include, but are not limited to landlords, sellers, brokers, real estate agents, appraisers, lenders, insurance agents, property managers, maintenance staff, neighbors, and many others in the housing industry. All services from housing providers must be done equally, and in compliance with The Fair Housing Act.
Have You Experienced Housing Discrimination?
If you, or someone you know, have been treated differently by a provider of housing because of a personal characteristic, you may have been the victim of housing discrimination.
How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint
If you believe you’ve experienced housing discrimination, have additional questions, or want to file a complaint, please contact us at 614-257-6300 (select option 2) or fairhousing@cul.org. You can also learn more at hud.gov — Fair Housing: It’s Your Right.
Learn About common Landlord and Tenant laws Here
Discrimination and Protected Classes in Columbus
Per Columbus City Code 2331, it is illegal to discriminate against an individual in the areas of employment, housing, or public accommodation based on the following protected classes:
- Race
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender Identity or Expression
- Color
- Religion
- Ancestry
- National Origin
- Age
- Disability
- Familial Status
- Military Status
For the purpose of the City Code, the definition of discrimination is to segregate or separate, or any difference in treatment, based on the protected classes listed above. Learn more here
HUD’s Fair Housing Equal Opportunity booklet
English Version Spanish Version Somali Version
Additional Resources
The City of Columbus
Fair Housing Guide for Landlords
Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
