Housing Discrimination

Did you know it is against State and Federal law to discriminate against any individual who seeks to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, or transfer any property or housing on any of the following basis?
  • Race
  • Color
  • Creed
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Ancestry
  • Disability
  • Familial Status (Families with Children)
  • National Origin
It is also against the law for any Bank, Banking Organization, Mortgage Company, Insurance Company, or other financial institution to discriminate when making financing decisions for property or housing on any of the above basis.

What Actions are Some Types of Housing Discrimination?
  • Refuse to rent or sell housing
  • Refuse to negotiate for housing
  • Make housing unavailable
  • Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental
  • Provide different housing services or facilities
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale or rental
  • For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting)
  • Deny any access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale of housing
  • Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules or services if necessary for a disabled person to use the housing
  • Refuse to allow a disabled person to make reasonable accommodations to his/her dwelling
  • Threaten or interfere with anyone making a fair housing complaint
  • Refuse to provide municipal services, property insurance or hazard insurance for dwellings, or providing such services or insurance differently
Victims of Discrimination

If you feel you have received unfair or discriminatory treatment during your housing search for one of the above reasons you are urged to file a complaint with the following agencies: Office of the Attorney General, South Dakota Housing Development Authority, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (links to these sites can be found below)

Office of the Attorney General

Website: http://atg.sd.gov/
Contact: Office of Attorney General | 1302 E Hwy 14 Ste 3| Pierre, SD | 57501 |Phone: 605-773-4400 | Email: consumerhelp@state.sd.us

South Dakota Housing Development Authority

Website: http://www.sdhda.org/
Contact: SDHDA | PO Box 1237 | 3060 E. Elizabeth St. | Pierre, SD | 57501 |Phone: 605-773-3181 | Email: info@sdhda.org

Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

Website: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD
South Dakota Contact: 4301 West 57th Street | Sioux Falls, SD 57108 | Phone: (605)330-4223 | Email: SD_Webmanager@hud.gov