🏡 Fair Housing: Your Responsibilities + Required Training (Fairhaven)
Updated: Sep 26
As a Kale Realty agent, you're stepping into a role of leadership, service, and integrity. One of the most important responsibilities you carry is upholding the Fair Housing Act—a cornerstone of ethical real estate practice and federal law.
⚡ Quick answer: Do I have to do fair housing training?
Yes. Every REALTOR® must complete 2 hours of fair housing training by December 31, 2027 (and every 3 years after that). The easiest way is Fairhaven, a free online course from NAR. Start Fairhaven here.
Fair housing is not just a rule. It’s a commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.
⚖️ What Is the Fair Housing Act?
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on:
🧑🏾🤝🧑🏼 Race, Color
🌍 National Origin
✝️ Religion
👩 Sex
👨👩👧 Familial Status
♿ Disability
🧬 The 1988 Amendment & Health Status
The Act was amended in 1988 to include persons living with:
AIDS
HIV
Other related illnesses
These individuals are considered protected under the definition of disability.
🚫 Protected Classes Under the IHRA
Illinois protects more categories than federal law. Under the IHRA, it is illegal to discriminate based on the following:
🧑 Race
🌍 National Origin
✝️ Religion
👩🦰 Sex (including sexual harassment)
🧑🦽 Disability (physical and mental)
👨👩👧 Familial Status
💍 Marital Status
🧬 Ancestry
📍 Order of Protection Status⚥ Sexual Orientation (includes gender identity)
🧓 Age (40+)
🪪 Military Status or Unfavorable Discharge from Military Service
💼 Source of Income (including housing vouchers and public assistance)
🏡 How This Applies to Your Work as an Agent
As a real estate agent, you must:
✅ Treat every client and customer equally
You cannot refuse to show, sell, rent, or negotiate a property based on any protected class.
✅ Advertise fairly
Avoid using language that suggests a preference for or against any group (e.g., “perfect for young professionals” or “no Section 8”).
✅ Respect housing assistance
You must not deny housing or service to someone solely based on the fact they use a CHA voucher or other lawful source of income.
✅ Avoid steering or selective service
Don’t guide clients toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on protected characteristics.
✅ Respond to complaints properly
If a client or consumer believes they've been treated unfairly, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) may investigate and impose penalties.
⚠️ Penalties for Violations
Violating the IHRA can result in:
License suspension or revocation
Fines and civil penalties
Lawsuits and damages
Permanent reputational damage
🚫 Kale Realty’s Policy on Disclosure
To stay in compliance with federal law and protect our clients, Kale Realty has a strict policy:
❌ If someone asks if you can find them housing that accepts housing vouchers, the answer is yes.
❌ If someone asks if the tenant you represent will accept housing vouchers, the answer is yes.
❌ Do not disclose that a current or former occupant has or had AIDS or HIV.
❌ Do not answer buyer questions about health status.
Instead, say:
🗣️ “It is the policy of Kale Realty not to answer that type of question one way or the other since it is not material and may violate the Fair Housing Act.”
If the buyer persists:
🗣️ “If that information is important to you, you must determine that information for yourself.”
🧠 What About Psychological Factors?
Psychological factors—like suicides or violent crimes—are not required to be disclosed under Illinois law. However, since they often become known through neighbors or public record, Kale Realty recommends:
✔️ Discussing potential disclosures with the seller
✔️ Recommending voluntary disclosure when appropriate
✔️ Respecting the seller’s decision—but if necessary, Kale may choose to terminate the listing after consultation
🖥️ Your Required Fair Housing Training (and How to Do It with Fairhaven)
What's the rule?
Who: every REALTOR® (NAR member). New members do it when they join. Everyone else does it once every 3 years.
How much: at least 2 hours of fair housing training.
Deadline for this round: December 31, 2027. (The current round started January 1, 2025.)
This is separate from your Code of Ethics training. You need both.
What if I skip it?
NAR's rules say your REALTOR® membership gets suspended in January and February after the deadline, and terminated on March 1 if it still isn't done. Kale requires every agent to belong to a REALTOR® association, so don't let this slip.
What is Fairhaven?
Fairhaven is NAR's online fair housing course. It works like a game: you play an agent in a made-up town and handle real-life situations like steering, bias, and clients with disabilities. You learn what to say (and what never to say).
Cost: FREE for NAR members
Time: about 2 hours (you can do it from home)
Counts toward the requirement? Yes. NAR says Fairhaven meets the fair housing training requirement.
How to do Fairhaven in 4 steps
Go to fairhaven.realtor
Sign in with your NAR member login. (Don't have one yet? Your association can help you set it up.)
Block off about 2 hours and finish the course. Use a computer, not your phone, with good internet.
When you finish, save or screenshot your completion page and keep it with your license records.
Don't want to do Fairhaven?
Other courses count too, as long as they meet NAR's 2-hour standard:
At Home With Diversity (AHWD), online or in a classroom
Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing
Fair housing courses from your association (CAR, MORe, or NSBAR)
Not sure if a class counts? Ask your association, or see NAR's full list of approved options.
⭐ Kale tip: Once you're done, head to The Locker Room (free for every Kale agent) for your scripts and weekly coaching.
💬 Need Help?
When in doubt—ask before you act. Our leadership and compliance teams are always here to help you navigate tricky situations legally and ethically.
🌟 Your Role Matters
At Kale Realty, we believe in fair housing for everyone. You are not just selling homes—you’re building trust, opening doors, and upholding one of the most important values in our industry. We’re proud to have you with us. Kale Realty takes these matters seriously and expects all affiliated agents to conduct business with the highest level of integrity and compliance.
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