

In addition to these classes that are explicitly protected under federal law, there are also other characteristics that may be protected because discrimination based on those categories would have a clear disparate impact on one of the protected classes. These bases of protection are commonly referred to as protected classes. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status (having children), and/or national origin. These laws also protect people from harassment in housing and protect people who help others exercise their freedom to choose the neighborhood where they live. These laws prohibit all race discrimination in housing and provide protection for other groups seeking to rent or buy a home, secure a mortgage loan or purchase homeowner’s insurance. ¤ 1981, 1982), and four Supreme Court decisions provide the legal foundation for the fair housing movement. The Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended in 1988 (42 U.S.C. motivated Congress to approve enact the law seven days after his death.

The legislation was pending in Congress forseveral years when the assassination of Dr. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, commonly referred to as the Fair Housing Act, was passed on April 11, 1968. Where the investigation leads to substantial evidence finding of discrimination, you can choose to have the case heard administratively before the Illinois Human Rights Commission or in circuit court, in which case the Illinois Attorney General's Office represents the Department.Fair Housing Act What is the Fair Housing Act? A voluntary settlement between the parties may involve payment of money, granting an accommodation request, approving a housing application, training housing providers, posting information on fair housing in common areas, or other appropriate relief. In many cases, the investigator can help the parties resolve the matter. If your case is accepted for investigation, an investigator will interview you and the other parties and witnesses to obtain relevant documents. The investigator will determine if there is substantial evidence of discrimination in your case. When you submit a fair housing complaint, your case will be assigned to intake staff who will review your allegations to determine whether to file a formal charge for investigation. Learn more about our federal-state partnership below. * NOTE: If you have filed a fair housing complaint with The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), your complaint will likely be forwarded here to IDHR for investigation. If you believe you have experienced unlawful discrimination in housing and wish to file a charge of discrimination, you must provide basic information about the alleged discrimination, in writing, to IDHR within One Year (365 days) of the last incident of the alleged discrimination.* Use IDHR’s Fair Housing complaint form to submit your complaint.

The Fair Housing provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act apply to landlords, owners, property management companies, real estate agents, home sellers, builders, appraisers, mortgage lenders (banks and loan brokers), third-party loan modification service providers and any other person engaged in a real estate transaction. The law also prohibits aiding and abetting unlawful discrimination, intimidation and interference in the exercise or enjoyment of an individual’s fair housing rights, and retaliation against an individual for opposing what they reasonably believe is unlawful discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in all aspects of real estate transactions, including renting or leasing, home sales, mortgage lending and insurance, advertising, practices such as restrictive covenants, and new construction. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits housing discrimination in real estate transactions based on: Race The Fair Housing Division of the Illinois Department of Human Rights (“IDHR”) is responsible for investigating charges of unlawful discrimination involving real estate transactions for residential (housing) or commercial property.
