FAIR HOUSING
Consumer Guide for Older Virginians
Virginia law prohibits discrimination on the basis of "elderliness",
which is defined as age 55 and older for purposes of fair housing.
Because our state includes older Virginians as a protected class, its
provisions are even broader than the federal fair housing law.
The Virginia Fair Housing Office (VFHO) operates under the Department of
Professional and Occupational Regulation. VFHO investigates complaints
of housing discrimination, tries to resolve complaints fairly through
voluntary conciliation, and offers free training and outreach to educate
consumers and housing providers.
Your Right to Non-Discriminatory Treatment
It´s illegal for housing providers – property managers, owners,
landlords, real estate agents, banks, savings institutions, credit
unions, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, and appraisers – to treat
you differently because of elderliness.
If you are 55 or older, you may file a complaint with VFHO if a housing
provider:
- Refuses to rent, sell, or deal with you;
- Discriminates in the conditions or terms of sale, rental, occupancy, or facilities;
- Advertises in a discriminatory way;
- Falsely denies you housing availability; or
- Discriminates in financing or in broker´s services.
The law also offers protection against discrimination based on disability. For older Virginians who are disabled as well, in most instances housing providers must allow reasonable modifications (i.e., grab bars, wider doorways) and accommodations (handicapped parking spaces, for example).
