Effingham — Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-160
Steering prohibited
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to refrain from buying or renting a dwelling: (a) By making representations (whether true or false) regarding the race, color, creed, ancestry, or national origin of occupants or prospective occupants of other dwellings in the neighborhood wherein said dwelling is located; or (b) By showing said potential buyer/renter available dwellings only in certain neighborhoods on account of race, color, creed, ancestry, or national origin.
Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI Fair Housing § 17-160 prohibits a practice commonly known as 'steering,' which occurs when someone acting for profit uses representations about the racial, ethnic, religious, or national-origin composition of a neighborhood — whether those representations are true or false — to discourage a person from buying or renting a dwelling there. The rule also bars the related practice of showing prospective buyers or renters available properties only in certain neighborhoods based on those same protected characteristics. Together, these prohibitions are designed to ensure that housing choices are not manipulated along demographic lines.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Effingham should be aware that § 17-160 covers any profit-motivated conduct that channels prospective buyers or renters toward or away from particular neighborhoods based on race, color, creed, ancestry, or national origin. Compliant operators present available listings across all relevant areas without filtering by the demographic characteristics of those neighborhoods, and they avoid making any neighborhood-composition remarks — even factually accurate ones — that could be construed as discouraging a prospect. Maintaining consistent, documented showing practices for all prospects helps demonstrate adherence to this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Effingham Ch. 17 Art. VI § 17-160, prospective renters and buyers have the right to be shown available dwellings without being steered based on race, color, creed, ancestry, or national origin, and to receive neighborhood information that is not selectively framed to discourage their interest. If a person believes they have experienced steering, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local fair housing authority, contacting a tenant- or housing-rights organization for guidance, or reaching out to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which administers federal fair housing protections. Keeping records of communications, showing appointments, and any statements made by a housing provider can be useful when pursuing any of these avenues.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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