Michigan residents may be protected by a piece of legislation called the Fair Housing Act. It makes it generally illegal for landlords or homeowners to discriminate against those with disabilities when renting or selling most types of housing. Accommodations may need to be made to help a disabled person live comfortably in his or her apartment. Reasonable accommodations may also need to be made to rules or regulations a disabled homeowner or tenant may be subject to.
For purposes of the Fair Housing Act, a handicap may be either mental or physical. It is also important to note that there are exceptions to the terms of the Fair Housing Act. For instance, they may not apply to the sale or rental of a single-family home if the owner of the property owns or has an interest in three or fewer homes at the time of the sale. Furthermore, the terms may not apply if the home is being sold or rented without a real estate agent.
Religious groups and private clubs may also be exempt from the terms of the Fair Housing Act. This is true if they intend to favor those who belong to that religion or to that private club. However, these exemptions may not apply if membership in a group is limited based on race, color or national origin.
Those who believe that they were denied housing based on a physical ailment or mental illness may have cause to pursue legal action. It may be possible to seek monetary relief or other relief as allowed by law. An attorney may be able to review the case to determine if an individual’s rights were violated. If so, it may be possible to resolve the matter either through informal talks or a formal trial.