The disability provisions of the Fair Housing Act, as many as local and state laws, make it illegal for landlords, sellers, real estate agents, insurers, or lenders to discriminate against the hearing impaired. The below video, created by the Disability Law Lowdown, clearly explains how fair housing laws provide for the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Credit reports contain information about where you live and work and your bill paying habits; it may also state whether there has been and eviction or arrest. Landlords have the right to charge for credit reports. Many landlords pay credit agencies for reports. A landlord may also track credit themselves, by contacting banks, credit card companies, and checking court files for lawsuits or bankruptcies. Either way the landlord can charge a non-refundable fee for the check.

Does my landlord have to give me him/her or anyone else's name, address and telephone number when I move into the apartment?
Yes. Your landlord must give you the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the:

• Owner or manager of the building; and
• Person who can receive, on your landlord's behalf, your notices and demands.

Must I have a written lease agreement?
No. You and your landlord may, if you want,enter into an oral lease agreement. If you have an oral agreement and pay rent on a monthly basis, you have a month-to-month tenancy which either you or your landlord can terminate with at least one month written notice. For more information, see the Leases and Subleases Guide.

There are a number of website that you can visit to search for an apartment online. Before visiting any of them, we encourage you to use our Neighborhood Finder to help you determine where to look and read our Guide on Online Housing Discrimination to know how to identify illegal discrimination.

Does every tenant have a lease agreement?
Yes. It may be a written lease or an oral (unwritten) lease.

What is the advantage of a written lease agreement?
It sets out the terms of your agreement with the landlord. Furthermore, it states how long your tenancy will last, and your landlord cannot terminate this tenancy early unless you violate one of the lease provisions.