Fair Housing AI Guide
What AI Can and Cannot Say — Protect Yourself and Your Clients
AI doesn't know Fair Housing law. You do. This guide ensures your AI-generated content stays compliant.
The Core Rule
Never describe WHO lives somewhere or WHO should live somewhere.
Fair Housing protects people from discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Religion
- Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
- Familial Status (families with children)
- Disability
Many states add additional protected classes.
Phrases AI Loves That You Should Block
Add these to your Context Card "Do Not Say" section:
Distance/Accessibility Phrases
| Dangerous Phrase |
Why It's Risky |
Safe Alternative |
| "Walking distance to..." |
Implies ability discrimination |
"Close to..." or "[X] miles from..." |
| "Steps from..." |
Same issue |
"Near..." |
| "Easy walk to school" |
Assumes mobility |
"Convenient to schools" |
| "Perfect for commuters" |
Could exclude disabled |
"Easy access to major routes" |
Family/Demographic Phrases
| Dangerous Phrase |
Why It's Risky |
Safe Alternative |
| "Great for families" |
Familial status discrimination |
"Spacious floorplan" |
| "Perfect for young professionals" |
Age discrimination |
"Urban location with amenities" |
| "Empty nester dream" |
Age/familial discrimination |
"Low-maintenance living" |
| "Bachelor pad" |
Sex discrimination |
"Efficient layout" |
| "Family neighborhood" |
Familial status |
"Established neighborhood" |
| "Adult community" |
Age discrimination |
State specific age restrictions factually |
Religious/Cultural Phrases
| Dangerous Phrase |
Why It's Risky |
Safe Alternative |
| "Close to [specific church/temple/mosque]" |
Religious preference |
Don't mention |
| "In the [ethnic] part of town" |
National origin |
Just describe the neighborhood |
| "Christian community" |
Religious discrimination |
Don't mention |
School-Related Phrases
| Dangerous Phrase |
Why It's Risky |
Safe Alternative |
| "Best schools in the area" |
Subjective + steering |
"Zoned for [school name]" |
| "Top-rated school district" |
Need source |
"School ratings at [website]" |
| "Great schools nearby" |
Vague/subjective |
"Within [district name] school district" |
What You CAN Say
Physical features of the property:
- Square footage
- Number of rooms
- Lot size
- Architectural style
- Updates and renovations
- View descriptions (what you see, not who lives there)
Factual location information:
- Street name
- Subdivision name
- City/county
- Distance in miles to landmarks
- Zoning information
Objective neighborhood facts:
- "Zoned for [school name]" (verifiable fact)
- "HOA-managed community"
- "[X] miles from downtown"
- "Built in [year]"
Update Your Context Card
Add this to your "Do Not Say" section:
FAIR HOUSING COMPLIANCE:
- Never "walking distance" (use miles instead)
- Never describe ideal buyer demographics
- Never mention schools without sourcing ratings
- Never imply who should or shouldn't live somewhere
- Never describe neighborhood demographics
- Never use "family-friendly" or "great for families"
- Never "perfect for [any group of people]"
Before You Post/Send
Quick Compliance Check:
Does this describe the PROPERTY or the PEOPLE?
- Property features = OK
- People descriptions = STOP
Could someone claim this excludes them?
Am I making subjective claims about schools/safety?
- If yes = add source or remove
Am I using "walking distance" or implying ability?
- If yes = change to miles or "close to"
When AI Gets It Wrong
AI frequently generates these violations. Always check for:
What to Do If You're Unsure
- Describe the property, not the people
- Use measurements instead of subjective terms
- Cite sources for any quality claims
- When in doubt, leave it out
- Consult your broker for state-specific rules
Additional State Protections
Many states add protections beyond federal Fair Housing. Common additions:
- Age
- Marital status
- Source of income
- Political affiliation
- Military/veteran status
- Student status
- Sexual orientation/gender identity (federal protection as of 2021)
Know your state's protected classes and add relevant items to your Context Card.
Resources
- HUD Fair Housing: hud.gov/fairhousing
- NAR Code of Ethics: nar.realtor/code-of-ethics
- Your state real estate commission website
- Your broker's compliance guidelines
Remember: AI doesn't know the law. You're responsible for everything you publish.
From the AI Acceleration Resource Room