There are laws that protect your rights. It is illegal to discriminate against you because you are "different" or belong to a certain group of people.
- Introduction
- Who is protected from discrimination?
- What is housing discrimination?
- Some examples based on:
- What rules can a landlord have?
- What to do if you were treated unfairly
- Where to call for help
- For more information
Introduction
You have the right to choose where you live. It is against the law for anyone to treat you differently just because you belong to a certain group, have children, are disabled or have Section 8. This unfair treatment is discrimination. Read this article to find out:
- Who is protected
- What housing discrimination is
- What you can do if you have been discriminated against
- Who you can call for help or information.
Who is protected from discrimination?
It is against the law for a landlord to treat you differently because of your
- race, color, or national origin
- how you pay your rent
- disability
- family situation
- religion
- sex/gender
- sexual orientation
- marital status
It is illegal to treat you differently just because you have kids, you have Section 8, because of your race or color, and more.
Note: To make this article easier to read...
- We use the word “landlord” to mean property owner, building manager and anyone else involved in renting an apartment.
- We talk about discrimination in renting, but the information also applies if you are buying a home.
What is housing discrimination?
It may be discrimination if a landlord treats you differently because you belong to one of the groups listed on page 3. Housing discrimination happens in many ways. It is usually hidden. Here are some examples.
Race, Color or National Origin
It is against the law for a landlord to treat you differently because of your race, color, or national origin.
Examples of how it might look:
- A landlord shows you apartments only in areas where most people look like you.
- The sign says "vacancy" but the landlord says it is rented.
Families with Children
It is against the law for a landlord to treat you differently because you have children. The law also protects you if you are pregnant, getting custody or are adopting.
Examples of how it might look:
- The landlord charges you a higher rent or security deposit than tenants without children.
- The landlord says things like
- You’ll have to pay an extra deposit for each child.
- Families with children can only rent on the first floor.
Note: The laws apply to most housing, but not all.
For example, some laws do not apply to two-family housing if the landlord lives in the house. Call one of the agencies listed in this article to find out more.
How You Pay the Rent
It is against the law for a landlord to treat you differently because of how you pay the rent. This means you cannot be treated differently because you have Section 8 or you are on State welfare.
Examples of how it might look:
- The landlord says the owner doesn’t take Section 8.
- The landlord wants cash instead of the State security deposit guarantee.
- The landlord makes you fill out more paperwork than other tenants.
You cannot be treated differently because you get:
- Section 8 rental help
- State welfare (TFA)
- Unemployment compensation
- RAP (Rental Assistance Program)
- Child Support
- Social Security .... and more
It is also against the law to treat you differently in other areas, such as... work, education, getting credit, and more
, and more.Disabilities
People with a disability must be treated the same as everyone else. It is against the law for a landlord to treat you differently because you or a family member have---or seem to have--a disability.
Examples of how it might look:
A landlord says things like
- You can’t live here because there is no one to take care of you.
- I’d like to rent to you, but my insurance will go up.
- We don’t want alcoholics or drug addicts here, even if they’re in recovery programs.
- I need your medical records.
Disabilities Include:
AIDS- autism
- depression
- epilepsy
- cerebral palsy
- schizophrenia
- developmental disabilities
- chronic alcoholism
- a problem seeing, hearing, walking, breathing, etc.... and more
EXTRA RIGHTS for People with Disabilities
You have the right to make physical changes in the apartment whenever you need them.
Changes could include ramps, bathroom grab bars, etc.
You might need to prove you need this change. You do not need to give the name of your condition or copies of your medical records.
The only information your landlord has a right to know is
- you are disabled and
- what the doctor thinks you need to live in the apartment.
You might need to agree to remove the changes before you move out.
A landlord may not have to make the change if it would be very expensive or unreasonable.
- You have the right to reasonable changes in rules.
Landlords must be flexible with the rules so that you can use your apartment just like the other tenants. For example, the landlord must allow you to have a service dog even if pets are not allowed.
You do NOT have to give copies of your medical records or give the name of your condition.
What rules can a landlord have?
A landlord can have rules, but the rules must be the same for all tenants. Here are some examples.
A landlord
- can refuse to rent to people with pets (unless it is a service animal)
- can refuse to rent to you if
- you do not have enough income to afford the rent
- were evicted before because you destroyed property or did not pay the rent
- can say that ALL tenants must
- give credit references
- pay a security deposit of up to 2 months’ rent (up to 1 month's rent if you are 62 years or older)
- give references from former landlords
- pass a criminal background check.
What can I do if I was treated unfairly?
Write It Down
It is a good idea to keep a record of all phone calls and meetings. Write down:
- The dates, times, meeting place, and people involved (names and titles)
- What happened, what was said, and who said it
- The reason you were turned down
- The address of the apartment and the type of building
- The names and addresses of any witnesses.
Save All Paperwork
Save all papers or documents that are about your housing or unfair treatment. For example, save:
- letters
- receipts
- applications
- e-mails
- notices
- voicemail messages
- business cards
- lease agreements
Where to call for help
You can call for advice, information and help making a formal complaint. Call soon... you only have 180 days to make a complaint. If you wait, it may be harder to prove your case because witnesses may forget details and paperwork may be lost.
The Connecticut Fair Housing Center
860-247-4400 or toll free 1-888-247-4401
221 Main Street, Suite 401, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ctfairhousing.org
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO)
860-541-3403 or toll free 1-800-477-5737 ext. 3403
860-541-3459 TDD for the hearing impaired
CHRO Fair Housing Unit
21 Grand St, Hartford, CT 06106
www.state.ct.us/chro
Statewide Legal Services (SLS)
860-344-0380 or toll free 1-800-453-3320
For help finding a private lawyer, call the County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service for your area:
Fairfield County
203-335-4116
Hartford County
860-525-6052
New Haven County
203-562-5750
New London County
860-889-9384
This booklet was produced by the Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut in cooperation with Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, New Haven Legal Assistance Association, and Statewide Legal Services.
The information in this booklet is based on laws in Connecticut as of 12/2010. We hope that the information is helpful. It is not intended as legal advice for an individual situation. Please call Statewide Legal Services or contact an attorney for additional help.
