Discrimination

How to Avoid Illegal Steering - Don’t Let a Leasing Agent’s Seemingly Innocent Comment Get You Sued For Illegal Steering

 

Picture this: A gay couple visits your leasing office asking about available one-bedroom apartments. There are two such apartments available but your leasing agent shows the couple only one. She doesn’t mention the other apartment because she wants to keep the couple away from the resident in the neighboring apartment because she’s heard him using gay slurs. Since she’s only trying to protect the couple, her actions don’t violate fair housing law. Right?

Wrong. 

Even if well meaning, the leasing agent could be accused of discrimination because she directed or “steered” the couple away from a particular apartment because of their sexual orientation.

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