HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 2-16
Other Prohibited Rental Activities (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
A. Owners must not engage in activities that steer potential tenants away from or
toward particular units by words or actions based on race, color, religion, sex,
disability, familial status, or national origin.
B. Owners must not make housing units and related services unavailable to any
potential tenants based upon race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status,
or national origin.
C. Such prohibited actions include the following:
1. Discouraging anyone from inspecting or renting a unit in a community,
neighborhood, or property;
2. Discouraging anyone from renting a unit by exaggerating the problems of
a unit or failing to inform a person of the good points of the unit in a
community, neighborhood, or property;
3. Assigning any person to a particular section of a community,
neighborhood, or project, or to a particular floor of a building, because of
race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin,
except when assigning an accessible unit to a person with a disability
who needs the features of the unit; and
4. Denying or delaying the processing of an application made by a renter.HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 2-16 prohibits housing owners from steering, discouraging, or otherwise limiting a prospective tenant's access to units or related services based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. This includes actions like exaggerating a unit's drawbacks, withholding positive information, assigning people to specific sections of a property, or delaying application processing on a discriminatory basis. The only narrow exception noted is assigning an accessible unit to a person with a disability who requires its features.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 2-16, compliant operators apply consistent, neutral language and conduct when presenting units to all prospective tenants, regardless of protected class. This means describing units accurately and completely, processing applications on the same timeline for all applicants, and avoiding any assignment of residents to particular floors or sections of a property based on protected characteristics. Operators generally document their leasing practices and train staff to ensure that no words or actions could be construed as steering or discouraging applicants.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 2-16 establishes that prospective tenants have the right to be shown and considered for any available unit without being steered, discouraged, or subjected to delays based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. If a prospective tenant believes these protections have been violated, one general path is filing a fair housing complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which enforces these provisions. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing councils can also help individuals understand what documentation may be relevant and what options exist under federal fair housing law.
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 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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