According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), refusing to rent based on a criminal records is a form of racial discrimination, due to racial imbalances in the U.S. justice, despite the fact that criminal history is not a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits both intentional housing discrimination and housing practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect because of race, national origin, or other protected characteristics under HUD’s guidelines.
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Whether you are the landlord or tenant looking to rent an apartment in Massachusetts, contact the Law Offices of Renee Lazar at 978-844-4095 for further guidance on navigating this policy.