Description
Massachusetts Fair Housing Law Poster
Help satisfy Massachusetts fair housing posting requirements with the Massachusetts Fair Housing Law Poster. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B, Section 7 requires covered real estate agencies, rental offices, and other businesses subject to the law to display an approved notice explaining protections against unlawful discrimination.
This poster informs tenants, homebuyers, housing applicants, and other individuals about their rights under Massachusetts fair housing law.
Poster Specifications
- Quantity: 1 poster
- Size: 8.5"W x 11"H
- Orientation: Portrait
- Format: Full-color Massachusetts Fair Housing Law notice
- Finish: Completely laminated with high-quality laminate
- Requirement: Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B, Section 7
Who Must Post the Massachusetts Fair Housing Law Notice?
Massachusetts requires covered real estate agencies and rental offices to display the Fair Housing Law notice in a conspicuous location.
Depending on the business and its activities, the requirement can apply to:
- Real estate agencies
- Real estate brokerage offices
- Rental offices
- Property management companies
- Apartment leasing offices
- Housing-related businesses subject to Chapter 151B
- Other covered businesses and organizations
What Is the Massachusetts Fair Housing Law?
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Law prohibits unlawful discrimination in housing and certain housing-related transactions.
The law protects individuals seeking to rent, purchase, lease, finance, or occupy housing and is enforced by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
What Characteristics Are Protected?
Massachusetts fair housing protections prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics that include:
- Race
- Color
- Religious creed
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity and gender expression
- Age
- Marital status
- Familial status and children
- Physical or mental disability
- Public assistance recipiency
- Genetic information
- Veteran status
- Military status
What Housing Practices Are Prohibited?
Massachusetts law prohibits various discriminatory housing practices based on protected characteristics.
Examples can include:
- Refusing to rent, sell, or negotiate housing
- Falsely stating that housing is unavailable
- Charging different rents, fees, or deposits
- Applying unequal lease terms or conditions
- Steering applicants toward or away from certain neighborhoods
- Using discriminatory rental or sales advertisements
- Refusing reasonable disability accommodations
- Discriminating in mortgage lending
- Harassing tenants or housing applicants
- Retaliating against individuals exercising fair housing rights
Massachusetts Source of Income Protections
Massachusetts prohibits unlawful housing discrimination based on the receipt of public assistance.
These protections include qualifying rental assistance programs such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
Housing providers generally may not refuse an applicant solely because the applicant receives qualifying public assistance or uses a housing subsidy.
Fair Housing Rights for Families With Children
Massachusetts protects families with children from unlawful housing discrimination.
Housing providers generally may not refuse to rent or renew a lease solely because a household includes children.
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Law also addresses discrimination involving families with children under six years old and properties containing lead paint.
Disability Rights and Reasonable Accommodations
Massachusetts fair housing law protects individuals with physical and mental disabilities.
Housing providers may be required to make reasonable accommodations in policies, practices, or services when necessary to provide an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing.
Examples can include:
- Allowing qualifying assistance animals
- Providing reasonable parking accommodations
- Adjusting certain housing policies
- Allowing reasonable physical modifications
- Providing other accommodations required by law
Fair Housing Advertising Requirements
Massachusetts prohibits housing advertisements that express unlawful preferences, limitations, or discrimination based on protected characteristics.
These requirements can apply to rental listings, real estate websites, social media advertisements, printed advertisements, signs, and other housing-related communications.
Where Must the Massachusetts Fair Housing Poster Be Displayed?
Covered businesses must display the approved notice in a conspicuous location on their premises.
Appropriate locations may include:
- Real estate office reception areas
- Apartment leasing offices
- Property management offices
- Rental office waiting areas
- Housing application areas
- Other prominent locations accessible to individuals seeking housing
Is the Massachusetts Fair Housing Poster Required?
Yes, for businesses and organizations subject to the applicable posting requirement.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B, Section 7 requires covered entities to display a notice prepared or approved by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
This is a state-specific fair housing posting requirement and should not be confused with the general Massachusetts employment discrimination poster.
Massachusetts Fair Housing vs. Federal Fair Housing Poster
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Law Poster addresses protections established under Massachusetts law, including protected characteristics beyond those expressly listed in the federal Fair Housing Act.
Covered housing providers may also be subject to a separate federal Fair Housing poster requirement.
This Massachusetts 8.5 x 11-inch poster should not automatically be treated as a substitute for the federal HUD Fair Housing poster.
How Can Someone Report Housing Discrimination?
Individuals who believe they have experienced unlawful housing discrimination may contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
MCAD investigates qualifying discrimination complaints and provides information concerning fair housing rights, complaint procedures, and available remedies.
For additional information, visit the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination at www.mass.gov/mcad.
Keeping the Massachusetts Fair Housing Notice Current
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination periodically revises its Fair Housing Law poster to reflect current legal protections, agency information, and other requirements.
Covered businesses should ensure that the notice displayed at their location matches the current MCAD-approved version.
Massachusetts Workplace Compliance Resources
Labor Law Compliance Center provides Massachusetts businesses with state and federal labor law posters, fair housing notices, employee rights materials, and specialty compliance products. Visit our Massachusetts Labor Law Posters page or browse our Massachusetts State Specialty Posters for additional Massachusetts compliance products.
