The following article is a discussion of the federal Fair Housing law governing 55+ communities. The contents are not intended to constitute legal advice, and should not be relied upon by the reader as such. All legal questions regarding this complicated and important law should be directed to legal counsel familiar with the area.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) went into effect on March 12, 1989. That Act amended Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the sale, rental, or financing of residential housing. The FHAA added two additional protected classes; (1) persons with disabilities and (2) families with children. Children include persons under the age of 18 years.