Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights
We understand that taking action against your landlord can lead to more issues. That's why we want to reassure you that no one can threaten your rights to a safe living space due to the steps you take. The following information will help you make decisions and give you options as you move forward
Rights In Review
The Fair Housing Act
Under the United States Fair Housing Act, any discrimination by housing providers, such as landlords, real estate companies, homeowners insurance companies, etc. can't discriminate against you or make housing unavailable to you based on:
● race/color
● religion
● sex
● national origin
● familial status
● disability
Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are responsible for handling cases of discrimination based on the issue and what rights of yours have been violated. Each resource contain useful information on your rights and what to do if you've been discriminated against when looking for a place to live.
There is also a Fair Housing Complaints hotline that you may call at 1-800-669-9777,
or 1-800-927-9275 if you are hearing impaired) to make a complaint.
Wood County
In Wood County, The Fair Housing Act specifically protects against discrimination based on the following
● race/color
● national origin
● religion
● sex
● disability
● military status
● ancestry
● familial status (including pregnant women, children under 18 living with parents, and people
securing custody of children under 18)
If you've been discriminated against, we recommend documenting and noting the experience, including the date, time, place, people involved, and what happened. You can contact the Wood County Planning Commission at 419-354-9128. You can also contact the nearest Regional Office of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission in Toledo at 419-245-2900 in addition to the aforementioned resources.