Fair housing
Our fair housing commitment
We do business in accordance with federal and Louisiana fair housing law. We do not refuse to sell, rent, show, or negotiate on a home, and we do not steer anyone toward or away from any area, because of a protected characteristic. If you believe we have fallen short of that, tell us and tell HUD — both numbers are below.
Who is protected
Federal law
The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.) prohibits housing discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.
Louisiana law
The Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act (La. R.S. 51:2601 et seq.) prohibits the same conduct. Section 2606(A)(1) makes it unlawful to refuse to sell or rent a dwelling because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, or natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. The Act separately defines and protects disability.
Sources: 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. · La. R.S. 51:2601–2614, § 2606(A)(1).
Louisiana protects two categories federal law does not: military status, and natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle. If you are house-hunting in Louisiana, those are yours.
What this means on this website
Two questions get asked of every agent, and how they are answered is a fair housing matter:
- “Is that a good neighborhood?”
- “How are the schools?”
Answering either one with an opinion is steering, because the answer tells you where someone like you should or should not buy. So we do not answer them, here or in person — not because we are dodging you, but because the law and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics (Article 10) both say the choice is yours to make.
What we do instead is give you the data and the source, so you can decide. On this site you will find median sale prices, days on market, sale-to-list ratios, millage and homestead exemption rules, flood zones and insurance requirements, HOA dues, and links to the parish assessor, the floodplain office, and the Louisiana Department of Education. You will not find our opinion about who a place suits, what kind of people live there, or whether a school or a street is good.
Accessibility and accommodations
If you have a disability and need something to work with us — a document in a different format, a different way to communicate, extra time, a showing arranged around a mobility need — ask. Federal and Louisiana law require housing providers to allow reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications, and that includes assistance animals, which are not pets and are not subject to pet rules, pet fees, or breed and weight limits. How this site itself is built is covered on our accessibility page.
If you think you were discriminated against
You can report it to any or all of these. You do not need a lawyer, and it costs nothing to file.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
1-800-669-9777 · hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination
Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled callers can reach HUD through the federal Telecommunications Relay Service.
Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
225-342-6969 · TTY 1-888-248-0859
P.O. Box 94094, Baton Rouge, LA 70804 · humanrights.la.gov
Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center — a private nonprofit that investigates and litigates housing discrimination statewide.
lafairhousing.org
Or tell us first. 225-438-9235. Reporting it to us does not replace or delay a complaint to HUD, and it does not stop you from filing one.
Common questions
Are schools a fair housing issue?
Yes. School quality tracks closely with the race and income of who lives in an attendance zone, so an agent's opinion about schools functions as a statement about who lives there. That is why we point you to the Louisiana Department of Education's own report cards and let you read them yourself, rather than telling you which schools are good.
Why won't you tell me if a neighborhood is safe?
Because an agent characterizing an area as safe or unsafe is steering, and it is one of the most common fair housing complaints against agents. Crime data is published by parish sheriffs and city police departments, and the FBI publishes national figures. Look at the source, visit at different times of day, and decide for yourself.
Can I ask you what kind of people live in a neighborhood?
You can ask, and the answer will always be the same: we won't say. Describing the people who live somewhere — by race, religion, national origin, age, family makeup, or anything like it — is exactly what the Fair Housing Act prohibits. Census data for every parish and place is public at data.census.gov if you want the numbers.
Does fair housing law apply to selling my own house?
Yes, in almost every case. The Fair Housing Act has a narrow exemption for some owner-occupied sales, but it does not apply when a real estate agent is involved, and it never applies to discriminatory advertising. Once you list with us, both of us are bound by it.
Does Louisiana law really protect hairstyles?
Yes. La. R.S. 51:2606(A)(1) names natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle as a protected characteristic in housing, alongside race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and military status. This is broader than federal fair housing law.
Is an emotional support animal the same as a pet?
Not under fair housing law. An assistance animal, including an emotional support animal, is a reasonable accommodation, not a pet. It is not subject to pet fees, pet deposits, or breed and weight restrictions. Rules differ from the ADA's narrower service-animal definition, so ask before assuming a property's pet policy applies.
Nicole Spellman Group is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider. Nicole Gaudet is licensed in Louisiana and brokered by Epique Realty. This page is a statement of our practice and a plain-language summary of the law. It is not legal advice.