Fair Housing Act
Here's what you need to know about how the federal Fair Housing Act can protect your rights:
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, family status, national origin, or disability.
In most types of housing, the Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, which is defined as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities; having a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment. Breathing is a major life activity.
Reasonable Accommodation
If you have a disability, you may be able to ask for "reasonable accommodations" to allow you to use your housing just like everybody else. Reasonable accommodations include structural modifications and changes in the rules, policies, and practices that would allow you to have equal access to your housing. In the case of secondhand smoke, this could include implementing smoking restrictions, being moved to a smoking-restricted building, separate ventilation, or sealing off your apartment.
Download information about the federal Fair Housing Act.