FREE 7-part Fair Housing training series featuring Attorney Mark Zinman to help set you up for success.

Course Content

Part 1 - History - Fair Housing Laws are more than just words; they have a deep, rich history. Knowing our country's history is crucial in understanding the “why” and “where” of today’s critical laws. In this part of your training, you will learn the complex history of the Fair Housing Act and the context in which fair housing laws were born into existence.

Part 2 - Overview - Moving from history into our modern day, you will learn the main points of fair housing law, including how the local, state, and federal laws apply, any applicable exceptions. This section provides a general introduction to the protected classes, along with the many protections offered by fair housing laws

Part 3 - Disability - Discrimination based fair housing complaints are statistically the most common type of complaint filed. When interacting with a person with disability there are specific, additional nuances that do not apply to the other protected classes, including granting reasonable accommodation and reasonable modifications.

Part 4 - Assistance animals, which include both emotional support and service animals, enable a disabled person to reasonable use and enjoyment of a rental property. Property managers learn which questions they can or cannot ask, what amount they can charge par animal, and what other legal rights and obligations they have regarding such animals.

Part 5 - ADA v. FHA - There is a fair amount of interplay and differences between the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act ("the ADA"). Each act governs different areas of the property and has different requirements for property managers. It is imperative for property managers to be familiar with the different requirements of FHA and the ADA, both individually and collectively.

Part 6 - Advertising and Interacting with Residents/Applicants - Daily, property managers deal with applicants and residents, and what you say in those situations must comply with fair housing laws. While you want to highlight the benefits of your property and to provide the best customer service you can, it's important that all ads and communications about the property comply with governing laws.

Part 7 - Sex Discrimination Including VAWA - Under fair housing laws, sex, covering everything from gender discrimination and sexual harassment to discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity is listed as a protected class. Several sexual discrimination laws overlap, and managers must understand the interplay of these differing laws and how they protect residents and applicants.