California is strongly opposed to housing discrimination for any reason. State laws, such as the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), provide protections against discrimination when renting, leasing, or purchasing property. These laws prohibit landlords from denying housing opportunities based on things like race, religion, gender, disability, family status, or other protected characteristics. Therefore, if you have faced discrimination as a tenant or a potential tenant, reach out to a Huntington Beach housing discrimination lawyer for help as soon as possible. The compassionate tenant rights attorneys at Elder & Spencer could provide the guidance and legal representation you need to protect your rights and seek justice.
Housing discrimination comes in many forms, and no two situations are the same. Some common examples include:
This is not a complete list of possible discriminatory actions. If you are seeking housing and feel you have experienced discrimination, talk to a Huntington Beach attorney about your landlord or housing agent. You may have a case against them.
The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-19, prohibits discrimination in the housing market based on a person’s color, race, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disabilities.
California Code § 12955 is also in effect to protect people from housing discrimination and includes denial based on income, disability, military or veteran status, and more.
Contact your local Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) if you want to handle the situation independently. They could speak with the landlord and may investigate to determine whether you were discriminated against. However, this process may take time and not provide the desired results. Hiring a skilled housing discrimination lawyer in Huntington Beach could streamline the process and significantly improve your chances of achieving a favorable outcome.
If you decide to sue a landlord for discrimination, you must establish proof that discrimination has occurred. This may include:
Doing this is not always straightforward. It does require finding proof of discriminatory statements made. This may be in writing on advertisements that demand higher security deposits from people with children, discrimination statements in ads for the property, or actual written conversations that display a dislike of you based on age, race, and other personal situations.
A Huntington Beach housing attorney could help gather evidence that a landlord made explicit comments or actions displaying discrimination against you.
Housing discrimination is much more common than most people realize. If you have been a victim of discrimination and it can be proven, you may be entitled to receive:
You may also have renewed access to the house that was denied to you without risk of retaliation.
Whether in the workplace or looking for a home for your family, everyone deserves to be treated fairly. At Elder & Spencer, we always fight against discrimination. If you are a victim, we hope you will take a stand and talk to a Huntington Beach housing discrimination lawyer at our firm. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your legal options.
(714) 587-5150