civil rights law · claim

Elements of Fair Housing

Quick Answer

What are the elements of Fair Housing?

Fair Housing refers to legal principles that prohibit discrimination in housing-related activities against individuals based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. The Fair Housing Act aims to ensure equal housing opportunities and protect the rights of individuals in seeking housing.

Required Elements

1. Protected Class Status

The claimant must demonstrate their membership in a protected class as defined by the Fair Housing Act.

What to prove: The claimant must show that they belong to a group protected under the Act, such as race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or national origin.

2. Adverse Action

An adverse action must be taken against the claimant in the context of housing.

What to prove: The claimant must prove that they were subjected to a disadvantage or denial in housing opportunities, which could involve refusal to rent, sell, or negotiate based on their protected status.

3. Causation

A direct link between the adverse action and the claimant's protected class status must be established.

What to prove: The claimant must demonstrate that the adverse action they experienced was due to their membership in the protected class, rather than any legitimate factors.

Burden of Proof

The burden of proof typically lies with the claimant to establish a prima facie case of discrimination, generally under a preponderance of the evidence standard.

Available Defenses
  • Legitimate Business Necessity
  • Bona Fide Occupational Qualification
Common Fact Patterns
  • A landlord refuses to rent an apartment to a family with children, citing concerns unrelated to the property.
  • A tenant is denied a rental agreement due to the landlord's bias against a particular ethnic group.
Exam Tip

Focus on the elements that must be established by the claimant, especially the relationship between adverse actions and protected class status. Expect hypothetical fact patterns that require application of the Fair Housing Act principles.

Key Cases
  • Sullivan v. City of New York (1990)
  • Griggs v. Duke Power Co. (1971)
  • Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. (2015)

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