Is the landlord held liable for any damages if found in violation of Fair Housing Law?

Yes, landlords are held liable for damages if they are found in violation of Fair Housing Laws in California. Fair Housing Laws are enforced by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and are designed to provide all individuals in California with equal access to housing opportunities regardless of their protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, marital status, age, disability, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Therefore, when a landlord is found to have discriminated on the basis of any of the aforementioned protected classes, they will be held liable for damages and may face penalties such as fines or other enforcement actions. Usually, the DFEH looks into complaints or reasonable suspicion of discrimination first before taking action. They will investigate the case and if they find that the landlord has violated the Fair Housing Law, they will contact them and try to reach a settlement agreement. If a settlement cannot be reached, the DFEH may take legal action, including civil penalties, back pay, injunctive relief (such as ordering the landlord to stop discriminatory behavior), and punitive damages. This means that for any damages found, the landlord will be held accountable and may be required to pay for any rental losses or other harm caused by their discrimination.

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