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Housing Discrimination Against Prospective Tenants

Generally, a landlord is free to rent his or her premises to anyone he or she chooses. The landlord does not have that same freedom if the housing is part of a federally-subsidized complex or the property is privately owned by a landlord who owns more than four units. The landlord can only refuse to rent his premises to a prospective tenant if the landlord has a tangible reason that is non-discriminatory.

Dog Law -- No-Pets Clauses in Residential Real Estate Leases

In residential real estate leases, it is not uncommon to find some type of pet restriction. Some leases contain a standard "no-pets" clause, which prohibits tenants from keeping any pets whatsoever on the leased premises. Other leases contain variations, such as restrictions on the size of a pet a tenant may keep or on the number of pets a tenant may keep.

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act

In 1968, Congress enacted the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 1701 (1998). In enacting the law, it was Congress' purpose to eliminate fraud in interstate sales of land. Briefly stated, the law requires certain disclosures in connection with the sale of vacant land. Despite numerous challenges since its enactment, the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act has passed constitutional muster.

Percolation Tests

A percolation test, or "perc test," is performed on undeveloped land in order to determine whether the land is absorbent enough to support the installation of a septic system. Typically, the test is performed by a hydraulic engineer.

Prohibition of Discrimination in the Sale or Rental of Real Estate

The Fair Housing Act, which can be found at 42 U.S.C.S. § 3601 et seq., prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of real estate on certain enumerated bases.