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

In Missouri, landlords are not allowed to deny housing to victims of domestic violence under Fair Housing Law. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in housing and other related activities. Domestic violence is considered a protected class under the Fair Housing Act, along with characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, religion, and disability. Under the Fair Housing Act, victims of domestic violence cannot be denied housing because of their status as a victim or their involvement in a legal action to protect their rights. Landlords must provide a reasonable accommodation for victims of domestic violence, including making safety-related modifications to entryways and windows, allowing tenants to break their lease without penalty, and transferring them to another unit. On a state level, Missouri has enacted the Victims of Domestic Violence Landlord Tenant Act, which further strengthens the protections for housing that domestic violence victims are entitled to under the Fair Housing Act. The state law prohibits landlords from discriminating against victims of domestic violence and requires landlords to allow tenants to terminate their lease early without penalty if they are forced to leave their home due to a fear of domestic violence. In summary, landlords are not allowed to deny housing to victims of domestic violence under the Fair Housing Act and the state of Missouri’s Victims of Domestic Violence Landlord Tenant Act. Both laws provide tenants with reasonable accommodations and guarantee the right to terminate leases without penalty when necessary.

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

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