Fair Housing Council
of Riverside County, Inc.
Complaints and Assistance
The Fair Housing Council of Riverside County investigates cases of illegal discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, presence of children, disability, ancestry, marital status, or other arbitrary factors.
Many times the unsuspecting homeseeker is not aware that they have been discriminated against because of the subtle way it may have been presented. Differential Treatment is defined as a difference in treatment of any protected class when all other factors are similar.
What is Illegal?
- Differential treatment in the areas of availability, terms and conditions, tenant qualifications, and courtesy when seeking to rent or purchase a home.
- Differential treatment in privileges, services, or use of facilities.
- Coercion, intimidation, threats, or interference with others exercise of enjoyment of a fair housing right.
- Refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, or practices of service.
- Refusal to permit reasonable physical modifications at the expense of the disabled person.
To file a complaint:
- A complaint is taken over the phone or in person. The Fair Housing counselor will determine if the complaint is due to housing discrimination or a landlord/tenant issue. If it's landlord/tenant, counseling, referral or a follow-up appointment is arranged.
- If the counselor believes the complaint involves discrimination, an appointment is set for an additional interview. At that meeting, the complaining party should provide documentation such as rent advertisements or rental applications. A discrimination complaint must also be filled out.
- The full interview with the complaining party is conducted by the counselor. If it's deemed to have merit, the counselor decides how to proceed. Whenever possible, testers are sent out to the location in dispute.
- If no test is conducted, the counselor must attempt to reach a conciliation between the parties. The accused has ten days to respond to a standard conciliation letter.
- If the complaint gets to this stage, the case will be submitted to a law enforcement agency of public or private legal resource.
For additional information call 1-800-655-1812 or visit one of our conveniently located offices where walk-in services are available.
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Copyright, 1998, Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.
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