Which act governs fair housing in the United States?

The Fair Housing Act is the cornerstone of anti-discrimination laws in housing within the United States. Enacted in 1968 as part of the Civil Rights Act, it was designed to eliminate discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. The Act provides legal recourse for individuals who believe they have been denied housing or subjected to discrimination based on these protected categories.

The Fair Housing Act mandates that both real estate professionals and property owners adhere to fair housing practices to ensure equal opportunity in housing. This includes advertising, leasing, and selling practices, all of which are scrutinized under the Act to combat discriminatory actions.

The other acts listed, while important in their own right, address different aspects of housing and finance. The Affordable Housing Act focuses on providing financial assistance for low-income housing, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act governs the disclosure of settlement costs in real estate transactions, and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requires financial institutions to report mortgage data but does not specifically deal with fair housing practices. Thus, the Fair Housing Act is distinctively recognized as the governing statute for fair housing in the United States.