Under the Wyoming Fair Housing Act
, it is illegal to refuse to sell or rent a housing unit to individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. In 1968, the federal government passed The Fair Housing Act
, which protects fair housing rights for citizens in all 50 states. However, most states also have their own fair housing laws, which may be more comprehensive in some cases. Each state also has its own methods for filing a complaint against someone who has violated these laws. The Wyoming Fair Housing Act, passed in 2015, is still relatively new. Consequently, many Wyoming residents may not yet be aware of their rights. This is why Jerry
, the super app
for car
and renters insurance
, has compiled this quick guide on what you need to know about Wyoming's Fair Housing Act. Does Wyoming have a Fair Housing Act?
Yes! As of July 1st, 2015, the Wyoming Statues include a group of sections (§ 40-26-101 through § 40-26-145
) which specifies the state’s laws regarding fair housing practices. The group of sections is collectively known as the Wyoming Fair Housing Act. Under the Wyoming Fair Housing Act, as stated above, it is illegal to discriminate against an individual seeking housing on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.
Acts that are considered discrimination under this law are as follows:
Refusing to sell or rent a property to an individual. Refusing to negotiate with an individual regarding housing availability. Or, in any other way, making a housing unit unavailable to an individual
Altering the price, terms, conditions, or services regarding available housing
Printing or publishing any form of advertisement for housing that specifies a preference for any certain race, gender, religion, etc
Falsely claim that a housing unit is unavailable
Promise or advertise a unit as being within an area predominantly occupied by any certain race, color, gender, religion, etc
Prevent or prohibit a person from making a real estate transaction
In addition to these restrictions, the Wyoming Fair Housing Act also protects the fair housing rights of individuals with disabilities. Landlords may not carry out any of the discriminatory acts listed above based on a person being disabled. Also, certain accessibility requirements for disabled persons must be met—keep scrolling to find out more!
Accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act
Apart from prohibiting discrimination toward the disabled, The Wyoming Fair Housing Act also defines certain accessibility requirements
for dwellings. These requirements forbid the following discriminatory acts: Refusing to allow a disabled person to make reasonable modifications, at their own expense, to an existing dwelling that would aid in accommodating their disability
Refusing to make reasonable accommodations in the usual rules, policies, practices, or services regarding a dwelling
Designing and constructing a covered multifamily dwelling that does not allow disabled persons to use. For instance, doors, outlets, entry points, etc must be readily usable by a person in a wheelchair
How to file a fair housing complaint in Wyoming
If you believe that you were the victim of unfair housing discrimination, file a complaint with the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(FHEO). The FHEO is a department within the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). The FHEO handles most fair housing complaints for Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. You can reach them by phone at either (303) 672-5437 or (800) 877-7353. You can also contact them in person or by mail at their regional office, which is located here:
Denver Regional Office of FHEO
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Denver, Colorado 80202-4801
If you prefer electronic communication, you can always email any civil rights complaints to ComplaintsOffice08@hud.gov.
When you want to file an official complaint, you can do so online
, or download the appropriate form
, fill it out, and mail it to the address listed above. Of course, if you have any questions or need any help filling out the form, you can always call the numbers provided for help! State agency vs. local offices
Most of the time, you’ll want to report instances of unfair housing discrimination directly to the FHEO. However, some jurisdictions have local resources that can either handle the matter or offer invaluable help guiding you through the process. Local agencies in Wyoming that can help you include:
How to save money on home and renters insurance in Wyoming
Dealing with housing discrimination can be stressful and expensive. Hopefully, the Wyoming
Fair Housing Act will help you find a new place to rent without too much trouble. Once you’ve found a place, though, you’ll still need to protect it with renters insurance
—and you don’t want to end up overpaying for your coverage! To help you find all the best deals on renters or car insurance
, Jerry
—the insurance comparison super app
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