by Chip Taylor
Fair Housing Makes Us Stronger, hard stop, period.
This is vitally important to keep at the forefront of a real estate professionals mind every day.
The Fair Housing Act may be the legal component and enforcement arm of Fair Housing but it’s Realtors® actions and business conduct that play a significant role to keeping doors open and maintaining equal access to housing for all. Take a minute to read Article 10 and Standards of Practice 10-1 through 10-4 of the Realtors® Code of Ethics and maintain it in your daily conduct. A Realtor® can serve as a prelude to the dream of homeownership and can make a substantial contribution towards the true implementation of the Fair Housing Act.
Signed into law in 1968, the federal Fair Housing Act turns 50 in 2018. It’s as relevant today as it was 50 years ago in the sale, lease, property management or advertising of a property by Realtors®. In May, NAR 360 commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act by producing and sharing a video that powerfully and eloquently speaks to the constant and crucial need for Fair Housing. Watch the video here.
Read below for the full Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics
Article 10 (Case Interpretations for Article 10)
REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14)
REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/14) [listen]
- Standard of Practice 10-1
When involved in the sale or lease of a residence, REALTORS® shall not volunteer information regarding the racial, religious or ethnic composition of any neighborhood nor shall they engage in any activity which may result in panic selling, however, REALTORS® may provide other demographic information. (Adopted 1/94, Amended 1/06)
- Standard of Practice 10-2
When not involved in the sale or lease of a residence, REALTORS® may provide demographic information related to a property, transaction or professional assignment to a party if such demographic information is (a) deemed by the REALTOR® to be needed to assist with or complete, in a manner consistent with Article 10, a real estate transaction or professional assignment and (b) is obtained or derived from a recognized, reliable, independent, and impartial source. The source of such information and any additions, deletions, modifications, interpretations, or other changes shall be disclosed in reasonable detail. (Adopted 1/05, Renumbered 1/06)
- Standard of Practice 10-3
REALTORS® shall not print, display or circulate any statement or advertisement with respect to selling or renting of a property that indicates any preference, limitations or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Adopted 1/94, Renumbered 1/05 and 1/06, Amended 1/14)
- Standard of Practice 10-4
As used in Article 10 “real estate employment practices” relates to employees and independent contractors providing real estate-related services and the administrative and clerical staff directly supporting those individuals. (Adopted 1/00, Renumbered 1/05 and 1/06)