California Civil Rights Department, Housing Discrimination

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (also known as FEHA) applies to most providers of housing and services related to housing such as landlords, tenant screening companies, real estate agents, home sellers, builders, mortgage lenders, and housing authorities. This law prohibits people or entities that provide housing from discriminating against or harassing tenants, homeowners, residents, their guests, housing or mortgage applicants, home buyers, and others.

Examples of actions that could be discriminatory if based on a person’s protected characteristic:

Refusal to sell, rent, or lease rooms, apartments, mobile homes, condos, or houses

Refusal to negotiate for the sale, rental, or lease of housing

Informing someone that an apartment is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when it is in fact available

Denial of a home loan or homeowner’s insurance

Cancellation or termination of a sale or rental agreement

Refusal to permit, at a disabled tenant’s expense, reasonable modifications – such as adding a ramp, widening a doorway, or installing a safety bar in a shower – when necessary to accommodate a disability

Refusal to make reasonable accommodations in housing rules, policies, practices, or services where necessary to provide a disabled person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling

Rules that restrict only on families with children, such as a prohibition against children using an on-site pool or playing in common areas of an apartment complex

Refusing to rent to a tenant with a section 8 voucher.

Not complying with the requirements of a rental assistance or subsidy program (such as section 8) by refusing to complete required forms, sign documents, or allow inspections

Refusing to rent to anyone with a criminal history