To ensure that
the rights of Home Buyers and Home Sellers are protected,
each and every sales associate subscribes to the Equal
Opportunity Program developed by the National Association
of REALTORS r and conduct their business and activities in
accordance with a strict Code of Ethics.
Equal Opportunity in Housing is an
ethical principle to which REALTORS® and
REALTORS® ASSOCIATES subscribe: moreover it is
the law of the land and the right of all who reside on it,
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 provides
that "All citizens of the United States shall have
the same right, in every State and Territory, as is
enjoyed by white citizens thereof to inherit, purchase,
lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property.
In the case of Jones vs. Mayer decided
on June 17, 1968, the U.S. Supreme court held that the
1866 law prohibits 'all racial discrimination, private as
well as public, in the sale or rental or property.'
In Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights
Act known as the Federal Fair Housing Law, Congress
declared a national policy of fair housing throughout the
United States.
The law made illegal any discrimination
in the sale, lease or rental of real property based on
race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law
required that all people be treated equally with respect
to the terms or conditions of sale, purchase, lease or
rental and with no denial of equal housing Opportunity
based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
This was enacted to strengthen the
administrative enforcement provision of the Title VIII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1968, to add prohibitions against
discrimination in housing on the basis of handicap (mental
and physical) and familial status (families with children
under age 18) and to provide stiffer penalties for
violations relating to discriminatory housing practices.
The Fair Housing Act as amended provides
any complainant, aggrieved person, or respondent with any
opportunity to elect not to proceed before an
administrative law judge, but to move the case to an
appropriate federal district court.
The National Association of REALTORS®
has developed an Equal Opportunity Program to provide
resources and guidance to REALTORS® and
REALTORS® ASSOCIATES in ensuring equal
professional service for all people.
Article 10 of the National Association
of REALTORS® Code of Ethics requires the
"The REALTOR® shall not deny equal
professional services to any person for reasons of race,
color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or
national origin. The REALTOR® shall not be a
party to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a
person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, handicap or familial status or national origin."
A REALTOR® pledges to
conduct his or her business and activities in keeping with
the spirit and letter of the code of Ethics. Article 10
imposes obligations upon REALTORS® and REALTOR®
ASSOCIATES, but is also a firm statement of position and
philosophy on housing opportunity for all people. The
National Association has also established a positive
public position for its members by providing Fair Housing
Posters to comply with HUD regulations for public notice.
This thorough and complete program
established voluntary compliance within the industry.
REALTOR® agree to acquaint the community with
equal housing opportunity and to establish office
procedures to ensure there is no denial of equal service.
REALTOR® also agree to provide materials
explaining this commitment.
