Executive Housing Consultants, Inc

Executive Housing Consultants, Inc

7315 Wisconsin Ave · Suite 603E· Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: 301.951.4111· Fax: 301-907-7329

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Fair Housing

Fair Housing is a right for all people and is guaranteed by Federal, State and Local laws. Accompanying the federally protected classes are additional State and County protected classes.

The following is a sampling of Federal and jurisdictional classes of persons protected against discrimination:

Federal Law:Race, color, religion, sex, disability (physical or mental), familial status, national origin

D.C. Law adds to Federal:Source of income, sexual orientation, marital status, age, personal appearance, family responsibility, matriculation,political affiliation, place of business or residence

Maryland Law adds to Federal:Sexual orientation, marital status,

Virginia Law adds to Federal:Elderliness

Montgomery County adds to MD:Source of income, age, family responsibility, gender identity, occupation, ancestry, presence of children,

Fairfax County adds to VA:Children

Falls Church adds to VA:Marital status, children

Alexandria City adds to VA:Marital status, ancestry, age, sexual orientation

We advise that if you are not using the services of a licensed Real Estate Professional to market your home for sale or for rent, research your local Consumer Affairs/Fair Housing laws for the most up-to-date Fair Housing Rules and Regulations. Otherwise, your Real Estate Professional will have this information for you and will discuss your responsibilities regarding these laws.

Remember, a person only needs to have the perception that they have been discriminated against to file a complaint against you. And this is perhaps the only area of Law where you are guilty until proven innocent!!! However, you do not have to rent your property to an unqualified tenant.

ADVERTISING:

The law prohibits the use of words, phrases and symbols to convey either overt or tacit discriminatory preferences or limitations. As an advertiser, it is important that you understand that the law prohibits not only advertisements that express a preference AGAINST certain home-seekers (e.g. no children, no groups) but also that express a preference FOR particular types of persons (e.g. ideal for female tenant or perfect for couple with no children). Both types of these advertisements may indicate a “preference, limitation or discrimination based on” a protected class, and thus violate the law.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF COUNTYORDINANCES:

It is not possible to cover all the ordinances of your particular county in this discussion. You will want to consult your jurisdictional (state and county) office to be sure all guidelines and requirements are strictly met. Landlord/Tenant Laws and State and Federal Laws are revised whenever new legislation is passed. Therefore, it is imperative that you have the most up-to-date legal information. This is one of the true and abiding reasons to have a Professional Property Manager!

-Raising the bar of excellence in residential property management-