---
title: "Fair housing — What It Means | Ondo RE"
canonical: https://www.ondorealestate.com/glossary/fair-housing/
---

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Renting & management[All terms starting with F](/glossary/#letter-F)

# Fair housing

Also called: fair housing act, protected classes

Laws prohibiting discrimination in housing based on protected characteristics, applying to advertising, screening, and terms.

Fair housing law covers the whole cycle: how a unit is advertised, who is shown it, how applicants are screened, and the terms offered. Federal protected classes are supplemented by state and local ones.

Intent is not the test. Language or a policy that has a discriminatory effect can violate the law even when no one meant harm, which is why advertising copy and screening criteria are written carefully.

## Why it matters

Describe the property, never the person you imagine living in it. That single habit prevents most advertising violations.

## Related terms

- [Tenant screeningEvaluating applicants against consistent, lawful criteria: income, rental history, credit, and background.](/glossary/tenant-screening/)
- [Lease agreementThe contract setting the terms of a tenancy: rent, duration, responsibilities, and how it ends.](/glossary/lease-agreement/)

## Go deeper

- [Property management services](/property-management/)

## More in Renting & management

- [Eviction](/glossary/eviction/)
- [HOA (Homeowners Association)](/glossary/hoa/)
- [Lease agreement](/glossary/lease-agreement/)
- [Maintenance reserve](/glossary/maintenance-reserve/)
- [Move-out inspection](/glossary/move-out-inspection/)
- [Normal wear and tear](/glossary/normal-wear-and-tear/)

## Have a question about your own situation?

Ondo handles brokerage, lending, property management and notary under one roof, so the answer does not change depending on who you ask.

[Talk to Ondo](/contact/)[Browse all terms](/glossary/)