Did you know that Virginia has a law that protects individuals from discrimination when trying to rent an apartment, buy a house, obtain a mortgage or purchase homeowner's insurance? This protection is also present at the federal level, but in Virginia it's provided through the
Virginia Fair Housing Law.
The Virginia Fair Housing law states that it is illegal to discriminate in residential housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity and veteran status. To find out more information about examples of protected classes and if they apply to you,
check out this page on the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation's (DPOR) website under the section titled 'Protected Classes'. Some classes are unprotected under the law however, such as students, smokers, and unmarried couples.
If you need to get in contact with the Virginia Fair Housing Office, you can call them at 804-367-8530 or 888-551-3247. You can also email them at
[email protected]. If you need to send a faxed document, their fax number is 866-480-8333.
Filing a Fair Housing Complaint
The Fair Housing Office is also responsible for investigating housing discrimination complaints. If you believe you have been discriminated against during the above mentioned instances, your complaint must be filed within one year after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred or terminated.
If you believe you have been discriminated against during or after one of the instances above, you can find out more on the process of filing a complaint by
visiting this webpage and opening the dropdown section titled 'File a Complaint'. The DPOR also has resources available for individuals whose main language is Spanish.
Publications and Links
The DPOR has a wealth of supplemental information regarding housing discrimination and what your options are if you or someone you know experiences it. From fact sheets and brochures to external housing websites, they have it all. We've listed some of those resources below, but if you want to browse everything they have available then
check out this link under the dropdown section titled 'Publications and Links'.
Fair Housing Law Overview Brochure
Virginia Fair Housing Regulations
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Website
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.)
National Fair Housing Alliance
Suggestions for Housing Providers
Fair housing laws are just as important for housing providers as they are for tenants and homeowners. The DPOR has a wealth of information regarding smart suggestions and rules to follow if you're currently a housing provider or will become one in the near future. To see what they suggest,
click this link and navigate to the 'Suggestions for Housing Providers' section near the bottom of the page.
Outreach and Training
The Virginia Fair Housing Office frequently hosts virtual training classes that informs attendees and gives them a basic understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities under the Virginia Fair Housing Law.
Additionally, there are several schools that offer courses with a more in-depth look at Fair Housing. Below you'll find links to those Fair Housing Board approved schools and courses.
List of Fair Housing Board-Approved Courses
List of Fair Housing Board-Approved Schools
List of Fair Housing Courses Approved by Real Estate Board
Additional Information
Aside from the links above, the Virginia Fair Housing Office website has resources applicable for virtually every situation related to fair housing. We've linked their main page several times above, check it out to see what else is available!