What are my main options for challenging a denial to private housing?
- Blanket bans against all people with criminal records
- Treating your criminal record differently than others (arbitrary discrimination)
- Landlord violated your right to notice of a background check, and your right to fix errors (go to PG. 377)
Go to Appendix I, PG. 430 to learn about how to file a discrimination complaint with a government agency. Try to get a lawyer to help if you can. See PG. 1127 of this guide for a list of legal aid providers across California.
As a summary, your main options for challenging an illegal denial from private housing are the following:
- You could file an administrative complaint with California’s DFEH (the state housing protection agency);
- You could file an administrative complaint with HUD (the federal housing protection agency);
- You could file a civil lawsuit in state or federal court; OR
- You could allow HUD (the federal housing agency) or California’s DFEH (the state housing agency) to file a lawsuit on your behalf.