Fair Housing
A person involved in selling or renting housing cannot:
- Refuse to sell or rent to someone after that person has made a legitimate offer.
- Refuse to negotiate with someone who wants to buy or rent.
- Make a home unavailable to someone in any other way.
How are complaints filed?
To begin the complaint process, your complaint must be submitted through our online complaint portal click on “File A Complaint”. Downloadable complaint forms are also available by clicking here. You must file a WSHRC complaint questionnaire within the applicable statute of limitations, as outlined below. Complaints submitted after the statutory deadline cannot be accepted.
WSHRC does not have jurisdiction to investigate complaints filed past the statute of limitation.
WSHRC does not provide legal services.
- Housing related discrimination must be filed with WSHRC within twelve (12) months from the date of alleged harm.
- Complaints should be filed quickly so they can be reviewed and investigated by WSHRC staff within the statute of limitation.
- You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at HUD.gov to protect your rights.
- The alleged discrimination must be based on a protected class. Protected classes in housing include:
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- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Creed (religion)
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
- Veteran/Miliary Status
- Disability
- Marital Status
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- Familial Status (Families with Children under the age of 18, or who are expecting a child)
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*A complaint must be filed, fall within our limited jurisdiction, be drafted into a perfected charge document by WSHRC investigator, and the perfected charge document signed by the complainant – all within the statute of limitations referenced above to protect your filing rights.
WSHRC Basic Fair Housing Training (Video)
Fair Housing & Real Estate Resources
Disability Access Requirements in New Construction Housing Projects
Fair Housing & COVID 19 Brochures Available on Northwest Fair Housing Alliance Website
- Fair Housing Rights for Protected Classes adversely impacted by COVID 19 (English)
- Maron ko ikijen ejellok kalijeklok ilo imōn jokwe ñan jejjetin armij ro emōj kejbaroki kin an lab aer jelōt jen COVID 19 (Marshallese
- Derechos de Vivienda Justa para clases protegidas afectadas negativamente por Covid-19 (Español)
Fair Housing Articles available on Northwest Fair Housing Alliance Website
- Buyer Unfair Practices Letters
- Immigration & Citizenship Status Under Washington State Law Against Discrimination-English
- Immigration & Citizenship Status Under Washington State Law Against Discrimination-Spanish
- Refugees and Immigrants and Fair Housing-English
- Refugees and Immigrants and Fair Housing-Spanish
- The Fair Housing Act and Protecting Families with Children during COVID-English
- The Fair Housing Act and Protecting Families with Children during COVID-Spanish
Fair Housing Occupancy Standards
On February 20, 1998, the Commission issued a Guidance Memorandum on Fair Housing Occupancy Standards. This is an important issue for landlords and for families with children seeking fair housing opportunities.
Interaction between Federal and State Law
The Commission has a cooperative agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to process and investigate dual-filed housing complaints for which our Commission receives finding under the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). The Commission is a FHAP agency because our law is substantially equivalent to the federal Fair Housing Act. Most of the Commission's housing cases are dual-filed with HUD; however, the state fair housing law is more expansive than the federal fair housing law and occasionally the Commission will prepare a complaint with Commission jurisdiction only.
Making Home Affordable Program
Homeowners NEVER have to pay to participate in the President’s Making Home Affordable program. We encourage anyone trying to modify or refinance their loans to a monthly mortgage payment that is affordable to visit the Making Home Affordable website at makinghomeaffordable.gov. Homeowners can also call the Homeowner’s HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE for free foreclosure counseling assistance.
- Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act
- Spanish Fair Housing Domestic Violence Poster
- Spanish Fair Housing Guide
- Fair Housing for Real Estate Industry Professionals
- Fair Housing in Washington State Poster
- American Indians / Alaska Natives & Fair Housing Rights
- Northwest Fair Housing Alliance fair housing publications
