"Am I being Mistreated?"
Sometimes discrimination is blatant.
“We don’t rent to people with children” or “Our home would not be suitable for a person with a disability.” Ignorance — not maliciousness — is usually the culprit at play here. The landlord or seller simply may not know that what they are doing is illegal.
Other times, it’s less than direct.
A landlord or seller may want to know where you worship or make inappropriate comments about your ancestry. Suddenly, the home is unavailable to rent or buy. In these scenarios, you may need to rely on your instincts. If it seems that your race, age, or any of the other factors listed previously are influencing a renter's or seller’s decision to rent or sell to you, you should take action.
It’s not just about making sure your rights are protected — it’s equally important to help prevent others from encountering this type of discrimination by reporting your claim.
What should I do if I think I’m the victim of housing discrimination?
Contact the Lancaster County Human Relations Commission Fair Housing Program. Have the name of the person that you feel has discriminated against you, as well as their contact information and any additional information that may be appropriate in helping our staff move forward with your claim.
A Fair Housing Specialist will investigate your claim by interviewing both parties. If probable cause is found, it‚s very likely you‚ve experienced housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Program will work with you and the landlord or seller to mediate a solution.
If probable cause has been found and a resolution cannot be reached, the Fair Housing Program can provide its findings to the court if you should decide to take legal action. While we do not provide legal support, findings from our investigations are often very helpful in building a winning case against a defendant.