County to offer free seminar for real estate agents

Imagine being told you could not rent or purchase a home because of your skin color, age, religion, disability or family status.

It isn’t fair and it’s against the law.

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of homes or other dwellings.

In Pinal County, according to Housing Director Adeline Allen, there are rare instances where her department receives complaints from those who feel discriminated against in their quest for a home.

“We do not have a lot of cases here,” Allen said. “If we get complaints, we immediately refer them to the Southwest Fair Housing Council in Tucson.”

Allen explained that once a complaint is received they will investigate.

“If discrimination is suspected,” Allen said, “they will ‘test’ the landlord or realtor on the eight protected classes. The undercover investigators will try to rent or purchase a place from that landlord and see if they are discriminating.”

The Pinal County Housing Director has nothing but compliments for the agents operating inside the county.

“We have a pretty good class of realtors,” Allen said. “A lot of them take a free class we offer on fair housing and they practice what they learn. Most of them adhere to high ethical standards.”

The Pinal County Housing Division along with the City of Casa Grande Housing Department will again offer the free fair housing class for housing providers from 1 to 4 p.m. April 24 at the City of Casa Grande Council Chambers, 510 E. Florence Boulevard.

“I would encourage everyone who is a landlord or realtor to take this class,” Allen said. “It always offers up information on new laws in a fun, relaxed environment.”

Real estate agents will be happy to know the class is authorized for credit from the Arizona Department of Real Estate. It will give agents three hours of fair housing continuing education for re-licensing.

To register call the Pinal County Housing Authority by April 18 at (520) 866-7203.

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