Fair Housing
The body of law, anchored by the U.S. Fair Housing Act of 1968, that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, financing, and advertising of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Many states and cities extend protection to additional classes. It applies across the rental process — advertising, screening, terms, and treatment during a tenancy.
Related terms
Tenant Screening
Evaluating rental applicants against consistent, written criteria — income verification, credit, rental history, references, and background checks where permitted. Consistency matters legally as well as practically: screening is subject to fair housing and consumer-reporting laws, so the same standards must apply to every applicant.
Eviction
The legal process by which a landlord regains possession of a rental unit, generally involving a formal written notice, a court filing, a hearing, and — if the landlord prevails — a court order enforced by an authorized official. Landlords cannot lawfully remove tenants themselves by changing locks or shutting off utilities. Notice periods, grounds, and timelines are set by state and local law and vary by jurisdiction.