Discrimination means that a landlord or a realty company treats you unfairly in your search for housing because of your race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, your family status, marital status, physical disability (including HIV), mental disability, source of income, the fact that you have a subsidy, or your status as a veteran.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether a landlord or realtor is discriminating against you. You may be a victim of housing discrimination if:

• A landlord tells you that an apartment is not available and then rents it to another person
• A landlord tells you on the phone that he will show you the apartment but, when he sees you, he says that he just rented it
• A landlord tells you that he doesn’t accept Section 8 subsidies

• When you apply for an apartment, he can’t ask you if you are HIV-positive or have AIDS unless the apartments are specifically for persons with HIV/AIDS (or persons with other disabilities)
• He can’t refuse to rent to you because you are HIV+ or because he thinks you are
• He can’t charge more for your rent or security deposit than others
• He can’t say “Sorry, I can’t rent to you because the apartment has lead paint.”
• He can’t say “I’m sorry. I don’t rent to Black people, to Asians, or Hispanics”
• He can’t say ”No children are allowed here"
• He can’t say “I don’t take people with Section 8 certificates”

• He can ask you if you are able to pay the rent.
• He can ask you if you are willing to follow the rules and regulations of the building.
• He can ask you if you are using illegal drugs.
• He can ask you if you have been convicted of manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs.

If you believe that a landlord has discriminated against you, you can call the following numbers and tell them what happened.

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
617-727-3990

HUD Fair Housing Complaint Hotline
1-800-424-8590