Are landlords allowed to deny housing to victims of domestic violence under Fair Housing Law?

In California, landlords are not allowed to deny housing to victims of domestic violence under Fair Housing Law. California enacted the Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Act, which makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against victims of domestic violence based on their status as a victim. This law applies to all rental properties, including mobile homes and apartments. Under the Fair Housing Law, landlords cannot refuse to rent to someone or take adverse action against them because of their status as a victim of domestic violence. This includes refusing to renew leases, increasing rent, or reducing services. In addition, landlords cannot attempt to force out a tenant by making the living conditions too unbearable–this is known as “constructive eviction.” In addition to protecting victims of domestic violence, the Fair Housing Law also prohibits landlords from discriminating against people based on their race, sex, religion, national origin, familial status, and disability. This law is intended to ensure that all potential tenants have an equal opportunity to rent a property and are treated fairly. It is important to remember that landlords do have an obligation to maintain the safety of their tenants and other residents. If a landlord has reason to believe that a tenant is a victim of domestic violence, they may take reasonable steps to ensure their safety, such as changing locks or repair damaged property. However, they must not take any action that would exclude the tenant from the property or discriminate against them in any way.

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