Under state and federal fair housing laws, tenants are protected against illegal discrimination by housing providers.
Here are the five most common examples of discrimination:
- It is illegal to be denied rental housing or treated differently based on your source of income, including housing subsidies like HUD Housing Choice Vouchers.
- It is illegal to be denied rental housing or treated differently based on race, ethnicity, or the color of your skin.
- It is illegal to be denied rental housing or treated unfavorably based on a physical or mental disability or association with someone who has a disability. Landlords must make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, such as waiving a no-pets policy for an individual who requires animal assistance.
- It is illegal to be denied rental housing based on sex or gender. For example, a landlord cannot charge a higher rent or deposit because of a person’s sex or gender, nor can they engage in sexual harassment.
- It is illegal to deny rental housing to families with children under the age of 18.
If you believe you are a victim of housing discrimination, you can file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Legal assistance is available through the National Fair Housing Alliance and LawHelpCA.
Attorney General Bonta is committed to advancing housing access, affordability, and equity in California. Recently, he announced a $3.5 million judgment against Wedgewood, a Los Angeles county-based real estate investment company, for unlawful evictions. Last month, he created a Housing Strike Force within the California Department of Justice.
You can send housing discrimination complaints to [email protected].
The Attorney General has also launched a Housing Portal on the DOJ’s website, providing resources and information for Californian homeowners and tenants.
