Fair Housing

Every person who contacts us about a home gets the same information, the same access, and the same standards. This page says what that means in practice and what to do if you believe we fell short of it.

What the law protects

The federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability.

Virginia law goes further and also protects:

• Elderliness
• Source of funds — including housing vouchers and any other lawful income
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Military status

We apply the Virginia list, which is the broader of the two.

What that means in practice

• Our standards are published. They are on our rental criteria page, they were published before you applied, and they are applied identically to everyone.
• Vouchers are welcome. A housing choice voucher or any other lawful source of income counts toward the income requirement the same as wages. We will not refuse to rent to you because of how you pay.
• Children do not disqualify anyone. We do not steer families toward or away from particular homes, floors, or neighborhoods, and our occupancy limit is not applied to exclude families with children.
• We do not ask about disability. Not on the application, not on a tour, not on the phone. If you need something, tell us what you need.
• Our listings describe the property, not the tenant. We do not write advertising that says who a home would suit.

Reasonable accommodations and modifications

If you have a disability, you may ask for a change to a rule, a policy, or a practice so that you have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a home. You may also ask to make a physical modification to the property.

Common examples:

• Keeping a service animal or a support animal in a home with a no-pet policy, with no pet deposit and no pet fee
• A reserved or closer parking space
• A visual smoke alarm or doorbell
• Grab bars, a ramp, or a lever door handle
• Being allowed a co-signer or an alternative form of income verification
• Sending notices in a format you can read
• More time to complete an application

How to ask: tell any of our brokers, in whatever way is easiest for you — by phone, through the form on our home page, or in person. You do not need a special form, you do not need to use the words "reasonable accommodation," and you do not need to tell us your diagnosis. We may ask for enough information to understand the need and how the change helps, and nothing more. We will respond promptly.

If you believe we got it wrong

Tell us first if you are willing — we would rather fix something than have you carry it. Ask for the supervising broker for the office concerned, or for our principal broker, Ann Malcolm.

You are also entitled to go straight to a regulator, and doing so is your right regardless of whether you raise it with us.

Virginia

Virginia Fair Housing Office
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233
(804) 888-2017 · Toll free (888) 551-3247
dpor.virginia.gov/FairHousing

Federal

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(800) 669-9777 · TTY (800) 927-9275
hud.gov/fairhousing