Fair Housing

fairhousing

We abide by a Code of Ethics, by Fair Housing rules and by the Golden Rule.  Article 10 of our Code of Ethics states:

REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)

 

As REALTORS, When we first join the REALTOR Trade Association, We stand and declare:

As a REALTOR Member of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS, I Agree to:

  • Provide equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity of any prospective client, customer, or the residents of any community
  • Keep informed about fair housing law and practices, improving my clients’ and customers’ opportunities and my business.
  • Develop advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded; expanding my clients’ and customers’ opportunities to see, buy or lease property.
  • Inform my clients and customers about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws by providing brochures and other information.
  • Document my efforts to provide professional service, which will assist me in becoming a more responsive and successful REALTOR®.
  • Refuse to tolerate noncompliance.
  • Learn about those who are different from me, and celebrate those differences.
  • Take a positive approach to fair housing practices and aspire to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
  • Develop and implement fair housing practices for my firm to carry out the spirit of this declaration

 

The Fair Housing Laws:

  • Fair Housing Act
    Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, 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 custody of children under the age of 18), and disability. More on the Fair Housing Act
  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
    Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
    Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
  • Section 109 of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974
    Section 109 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or religion in programs and activities receiving financial assistance from HUD’s Community Development and Block Grant Program.
  • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
    Title II prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs, services, and activities provided or made available by public entities. HUD enforces Title II when it relates to state and local public housing, housing assistance and housing referrals.
  • Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
    The Architectural Barriers Act requires that buildings and facilities designed, constructed, altered, or leased with certain federal funds after September 1969 must be accessible to and useable by handicapped persons.
  • Age Discrimination Act of 1975
    The Age Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
    Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.