REALTORS® build communities and believe people have a right to live wherever they can afford to live. This month marks the 45th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act. Each year REALTORS® recognize the significance of this event and reconfirm their commitment to upholding fair housing law as well as their commitment to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property.

Fair housing is a serious matter.

It is extremely important for licensees to be aware of local ordinances as well as federal and state fair housing laws. IAR Legal Hotline Attorney Betsy Urbance answers one fair housing-related question in the April issue of Illinois REALTOR® magazine. She also points out NEW fair housing rules relating to “disparate impact” or “discriminatory effect.” These rules became effective on or around March 17, 2013. The rules were drafted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to give landlords and tenants a clearer picture of what could constitute illegal discrimination in housing when there is a “disparate impact” or “discriminatory effect” even if the initial limitation is facially neutral. There does not have to be an intent to discriminate to violate the rules. Read more online: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=discriminatoryeffectrule.pdf and members can download the IAR Legal Webinar on this topic.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® fully supports and advocates the practice of equal opportunity in fair housing. It is our pledge to uphold the spirit as well as the letter of the law, through programs, activities and training designed to promote and further the right of equal opportunity in housing for all. We believe equal opportunity exists only where there is complete freedom of choice in housing and we oppose any attempt to interfere with this freedom of choice.