The Industry's Most Comprehensive Fair Housing Compliance Guide for Real Estate Professionals

Published by the National Association of REALTORS®, the Fair Housing Handbook (Fifth Edition) is the definitive operations manual for brokers, agents, property managers, and association executives who need to build a defensible, audit-ready fair housing program — not just check a box.

Whether you're standing up a written fair housing policy for the first time, training a new class of agents, or preparing your office for a HUD complaint or Article 10 inquiry, this handbook gives you the policies, checklists, forms, and recommended procedures to operate in full compliance with federal, state, and local fair housing laws.

Why brokers and broker-owners rely on this handbook

• Reduce liability exposure. Brokers can be held responsible for the discriminatory acts of their agents. This handbook gives you the documented policies, signed agent agreements, and recordkeeping systems that serve as your first line of defense in a discrimination complaint or testing investigation.
• Operationalize Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. Translate the Code's equal-service mandate into specific, day-to-day office procedures every agent and employee can follow.
• Train consistently and defensibly. Use the handbook as the backbone of new-agent orientation, annual fair housing training, and ongoing office meetings.
• Built on the NAR/HUD Fair Housing Partnership. Reflects the joint commitment of NAR, HUD, NAREB, NAHREP, and AREAA to advance fair housing in every transaction.

What's inside

A complete, step-by-step framework for implementing fair housing in your firm, including:

• The Equal Professional Service Model — NAR's proven framework for delivering consistent service: use systematic procedures, obtain objective information, let the customer set the limits, and offer a variety of choices.
• The Fair Housing Checklist — A diagnostic tool to evaluate your office's current policies, training, advertising, recordkeeping, and corrective-action practices.
• Guidance on designating a Fair Housing Officer — Roles, responsibilities, and how to build in-house compliance oversight.
• Tenant selection criteria for rentals — Appropriate vs. inappropriate criteria, application processing, waiting lists, and standardized terms and conditions.
• Fair Housing Advertising & Promotion guidelines — Prohibited words and phrases, use of human models, target-marketing risks, MLS comments, and the Advertising Guidelines Checklist.
• Recordkeeping standards — What to document, why it matters, how long to retain records, and how to use them to defend against testing-based complaints.
• Corrective Action policy framework — How to handle violations, document discipline, and protect the firm.

10 ready-to-use appendices

• Appendix A: REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration
• Appendix B: Sample Self-Assessment Checklist
• Appendix C: HUD Guidance on Advertising (including the 1995 HUD memorandum on Section 804(c))
• Appendix D: NAR Code of Ethics, Article 10 (with Standards of Practice 10-1 through 10-4)
• Appendix E: HUD Equal Housing Opportunity Posters (English and Spanish)
• Appendix F: Prospect Equal Service Report Form (the documentation tool that supports your defense in a complaint)
• Appendix G: Recommended Fair Housing Procedures — a complete model office policy you can adopt or adapt
• Appendix H: Advice on Reporting Acts of Discrimination
• Appendix I: Buyer Representation Agreement Fair Housing Language
• Appendix J: Equal Housing Opportunity Logo

Who it's for

• Brokers and broker-owners establishing or refreshing a firm-wide fair housing policy
• Designated Fair Housing Officers responsible for training, monitoring, and corrective action
• Sales managers and team leaders training new agents and reinforcing equal-service procedures
• Property managers and rental professionals building tenant selection and application processes
• Association Executives and education staff delivering fair housing curriculum to members
• Individual real estate professionals committed to upholding Article 10 of the Code of Ethics

Format

Physical, perfect-bound handbook. Published by the National Association of REALTORS®. Also available as a digital download.

Make fair housing a competitive advantage — not a compliance risk

Equip your office with the policies, procedures, and documentation that turn a legal obligation into a professional standard. Order the Fair Housing Handbook today.