24 C.F.R. § 100.400
§ 100.400 Prohibited interference, coercion or intimidation. (24 CFR Part 100)
Operative Text
(a) This subpart provides the Department's interpretation of the conduct that is unlawful under section 818 of the Fair Housing Act. (b) It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of that person having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of that person having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this part. (c) Conduct made unlawful under this section includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Coercing a person, either orally, in writing, or by other means, to deny or limit the benefits provided that person in connection with the sale or rental of a dwelling or in connection with a residential real estate-related transaction because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (2) Threatening, intimidating or interfering with persons in their enjoyment of a dwelling because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of such persons, or of visitors or associates of such persons. (3) Threatening an employee or agent with dismissal or an adverse employment action, or taking such adverse employment action, for any effort to assist a person seeking access to the sale or rental of a dwelling or seeking access to any residential real estate-related transaction, because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of that person or of any person associated with that person. (4) Intimidating or threatening any person because that person is engaging in activities designed to make other persons aware of, or encouraging such other persons to exercise, rights granted or protected by this part. (5) Retaliating against any person because that person has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in a proceeding under the Fair Housing Act. (6) Retaliating against any person because that person reported a discriminatory housing practice to a housing provider or other authority.
Under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.400, the Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with anyone who is exercising a fair housing right, has already exercised such a right, or has helped someone else do so. This prohibition covers a wide range of conduct — from pressuring someone to give up housing benefits based on protected characteristics, to retaliating against a person who filed a complaint or reported a discriminatory practice. The rule also extends protection to employees or agents who assist people in accessing housing, and to individuals who simply inform others about their fair housing rights.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.400 generally ensure that no one in their organization — including staff, agents, or contractors — takes any action that could be construed as threatening, coercive, or retaliatory toward a resident, applicant, or employee on the basis of a protected class or fair housing activity. Compliant operators typically maintain clear internal policies against adverse employment actions targeting staff who assist applicants or residents in accessing housing. Documenting that communications and management decisions are based on neutral, non-discriminatory criteria helps demonstrate that conduct does not cross into the interference or retaliation prohibited by this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.400, tenants and applicants are protected not only from direct housing discrimination but also from any form of intimidation, coercion, or retaliation for asserting fair housing rights, filing a complaint, or helping others do the same. If a housing provider's conduct feels threatening or retaliatory in connection with a protected characteristic or a prior fair housing complaint, that conduct may itself constitute a separate violation of this provision. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with HUD, contacting a local fair housing organization, or raising a violation of § 100.400 as part of an existing proceeding — and a tenant-rights organization can help explain what options are available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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