By Jan Steward, Arizona REALTORS® Risk Management Manager

Every April, our nation celebrates Fair Housing Month. This year, we are celebrating the entire year because 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968).

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin.

In 2014, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) amended the federally-mandated protected classes in Article 10 of the Code of Ethics to also include “sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Article 10
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)

As members of the national association, REALTORS® agree to a Fair Housing Declaration and to inform clients about their rights and responsibilities. NAR also encourages its members to work with state, local municipalities and county organizations to promote Fair Housing.

Related assets:
Fair Housing Makes Us Stronger (NAR video)
Fair Housing Law & Practice – Arizona REALTORS® website

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