Are you familiar with fair housing laws in Arizona? These laws were put in place to protect residents of Arizona from unfair practices related to housing. Unfortunately, age discrimination still occurs. However, steps can be taken if you believe that the fair housing laws in Arizona have been broken.
Use the following checklist to gain a better understanding of fair housing laws in Arizona and what to do if you experience age discrimination.
The Law
The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1968 established a national law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status. When seeking housing, all are to be treated equally.
Fair housing laws in Arizona are the same as the national regulations. In some communities, there are also laws against denial of housing based on age or marital status. The goal of these laws is to protect home seekers from discrimination during their pursuits of rentals, purchases, financing and insurance related to housing.
The Signs
Unfortunately, not everyone adheres to this law. Following are some of the ways age discrimination can occur. If you experience any of these issues, you may have grounds for a claim based on the fair housing laws of Arizona:
- Refusal: Property owners or managers refuse to show, rent or sell available housing options based on the inquirer’s age.
- Advertising: Those marketing housing opportunities publish ads that include discriminatory remarks against certain age groups.
- Rejection: The property owner tells someone the home is not appropriate for him or her based on age.
- Ignoring: The person who applies for a home is ignored—they are not contacted even after an application has been accepted.
The Steps
What should you do if you believe you’ve experienced age discrimination? Take the following steps to ensure all parties uphold fair housing laws in Arizona:
- Document: Write down information about everyone involved. Record the details of the experience, including the names of individuals and companies. Get addresses and phone numbers for any witnesses. Note the dates of all incidents, and write down pertinent information from conversations that could indicate discrimination.
- File: Create a file for any relevant information. Keep copies of discriminating advertisements, letters, emails or other documents that include age discrimination.
- Compare: Do you know of someone who received a different response than you did when you applied for the housing? Make note of their information so this situation can be investigated.
- Contact: If you suspect you have experienced age discrimination, contact a legal organization for assistance. These professionals will collect the information you have gathered and take the appropriate steps to make a claim or have the situation rectified.
Get Support
If you’ve experienced age discrimination, you’re not alone. The professionals at Goodman Law Group are here to assist you. We offer in-depth experience in housing laws and regulations. We can advise you on how to prevent discrimination and claims, as well as what to do if you have experienced these situations. Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!