Fair Housing in Minnesota
Renter's Fair Housing Rights
Someone seeking to rent an apartment, home, townhome, condo, duplex, or other rental property in Minnesota should have housing choice without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, creed, sexual or affectional orientation, ancestry (Minneapolis and Saint Paul), marital status, receipt of public assistance, Housing Choice Vouchers (Minneapolis) or age (Saint Paul).
This includes the right to expect equal professional service, the opportunity to view all available housing openings for which one qualifies, no limitations on communities or locations of housing, no discrimination in pricing or lease terms, reasonable accommodations in rules, practices, and procedures for persons with disabilities, and an environment free from harassment and intimidation.
The Federal Fair Housing Act, Minnesota Human Rights Act, and local regulations prohibit housing discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- Disability
- Familial Status
- National Origin
- Creed
- Sexual or Affectional Orientation
- Ancestry (Minneapolis and Saint Paul)
- Marital Status
- Receipt of Public Assistance
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Minneapolis Only)
- Age (Saint Paul)
What should I do if my Fair Housing rights were violated and I experienced discrimination?
Contact HUD: File a complaint online or call 1-800-669-9777.
or
Contact the MN Department of Human Rights
or
Live in Minneapolis? Contact the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights
Fair Housing Responsibilities of Rental Properties
Rental Properties in Minnesota are required by law to not discriminate in the rental of property based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, creed, sexual or affectional orientation, ancestry (Minneapolis and Saint Paul), marital status, receipt of public assistance, or age (Saint Paul).
In addition, they may not offer discriminatory lease terms or conditions, deny housing that is available, or advertise that the rental property is available only to certain people, while excluding any of the protected classes.
Fair Housing History
The term "fair housing" came from a political movement in the 1960s to outlaw discrimination in the rental or purchase of homes and a broad range of other housing-related transactions, such as advertising, mortgage lending, homeowner's insurance and zoning.
Inspired by the civil rights movement and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and at the urging of President Johnson, Congress passed the Federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968).
The primary purpose of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 is to protect renters from landlord discrimination. The goal is a housing market in which a person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status does not restrict access to housing. Everyone should have equal access to housing opportunities.
HousingLink is a Fair Housing Organization
We do not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, creed, marital status, public assistance, ancestry, sexual or affectional orientation, or age.
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