Oakland County is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing.

In Oakland County, fair housing laws guarantee all citizens equal opportunity in secure housing of their choice regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, religion, disability, or family status.

Laws apply to the sale, rental, financing, and advertising of housing nationwide.

The Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development Division can assist residents in cases of suspected housing discrimination. Inquiries may be directed to a housing counselor at (248) 858-5402.

Recognizing Housing Discrimination

Did you know that you have a right to choose housing – free from discrimination?

The goal of this study is to identify whether barriers to fair housing choice exist in Oakland County; so, your input is very important.

Fair housing laws apply to rental housing, homes for sale, advertising, home loans and home insurance. Federal and state fair housing acts prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, disability, age, height, weight and marital status.

If you would like to share your housing experiences along with fellow residents or housing professionals in a more interactive environment, please plan to attend one of the Public Fair Housing Forums or Professional Fair Housing Focus Groups: See below for dates and locations.

Federal fair housing laws apply to rental housing, homes for sale, advertising, home loans, and home insurance.

Housing discrimination can take many forms and it isn't always obvious

Here are a few examples:

The realtor only takes you to look at available homes in a neighborhood with mostly Asian residents because they believe you, as an Asian American, would be more comfortable living near "people like you."

The online advertisement indicates that many apartment units are now available for rent. You arrive the next day at the leasing office. When the leasing agent meets you, as an African American male, they inform you that the apartment is no longer available. Alternatively, once the landlord meets the applicants, a same sex married couple, the apartment is no longer available.

A landlord refuses to make "reasonable accommodations" to allow you to gain access to the apartment unit you are renting. Reasonable accommodations can include re-striping the parking lot to create a barrier-free parking spaces, installing grab bars in the bathroom to assist those with physical limitations, allowing a service dog for someone who is blind, etc.

The property manager refuses to make repairs to your apartment unit because you don't accept their sexual advances or harassment.

The property manager states that you and your family would not like living there since there is no room for your children to play.

More Resources

• Fair Housing Information Flyer