What you should know

REALTORS® are committed to fairness and equity in the right to own, use, and transfer property, while protecting the rights of consumers, landowners, and businesses.

Fair housing laws help ensure equal access to housing opportunities and protect individuals from discrimination in housing-related activities, including buying, selling, renting, financing, lending, appraisals, insurance, and accessibility. This page provides key information and trusted resources for both the public and real estate professionals in Delaware.

Know Your Rights

Everyone is protected from discrimination in housing. Under federal law, protected classes include race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. Delaware law expands these protections to include marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, age, and source of income.

The Delaware Division of Human and Civil Rights enforces state and federal fair housing laws and provides guidance through its Fair Housing Information Center.

Get Help or Report Discrimination

If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, complaints may be filed with the Delaware Division of Human and Civil Rights or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

If your concern involves a REALTOR® and the Code of Ethics, contact the appropriate local REALTOR® association to initiate the professional standards process.

For Consumers

Fair housing laws are designed to protect your right to equal treatment when buying, selling, renting, or seeking housing. Resources include consumer guides, FAQs, and information on how to report discrimination.

Topics may include accessibility, sexual harassment, limited English proficiency, and more.

For REALTORS®

Fair housing is both a legal and ethical responsibility. REALTORS® are encouraged to utilize training tools and resources such as Fair Housing simulations, implicit bias training, broker guidance, and professional development programs to ensure compliance and best practices.

Engagement opportunities include fair housing pledges, campaigns, and ongoing education initiatives.

Additional Resources

Additional resources are available through HUD, including legal materials, FAQs, outreach tools, and translated documents. The National Association of REALTORS® also compiled plenty of resources to assist. The National Fair Housing Alliance also provides leadership in education, advocacy, and enforcement efforts to promote equitable housing opportunities and the Delaware Association of REALTORS® is a member.