For Real Estate Professionals

If you have a license provided by the division of real estate (DRE), you need to undergo sexual harassment and prevention training to renew your license. 

Learn about licensure requirements for realtors from the DRE

Real estate agents, brokers, and managers must follow federal and state fair housing laws that ensure equal access to housing.

Housing seekers are entitled to choose where to live and to enjoy the use of the facilities in the unit without being subjected to unlawful discrimination or intimidation. 

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on:

Prohibited Activity

• Refusing to rent or sell real property, or refusing to engage in a real estate transaction, including: 

  • Misrepresenting the availability of property for inspection, rental or sale

  • Discouraging, not mentioning positives, or exaggerating drawbacks 

  • Steering, communicating incompatibility or segregating 

• Altering the terms or conditions of a real estate transaction, including 

  • Different rent or security deposit amount, parking privileges, pet fees, repairs

  • Sexual harassment, lease violation notices

  • Failing to address tenant-on-tenant harassment

• Discrimination against families with children under 18,including pregnant people or those gaining custody,such as limiting amenities or enforcing unreasonable occupancy rules.

• Indicating verbally or in writing an intent to commit unlawful discrimination. 

• Failing to provide REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS for persons with disabilities, including: 

  • Denying reasonable requests for changes to policies, practices and services, such as i. Reserved parking spaces, different ways to pay rent, and live-in caregivers if needed.

  • Denying reasonable exceptions to “no pet” policies for people with disabilities, including refusing provider letters for assistance animals, charging fees (except for damages), requiring extra insurance or certifications, or restricting animals by breed or weight.

• Failing to allow reasonable modifications for people with disabilities, such as adding grab bars, removing doors, adjusting sinks for wheelchair access, or installing a ramp.

Best Practices

• Treat all people the same, without differences in treatment based on their protected class. 

• Be truthful about the availability of property. 

• Keep good records document actions taken. 

• Have stated policies and practices and follow them; document reasons for any deviations from policies 

• Ensure that all agents and employees are trained on fair housing and follow the law. 

• Be aware of local ordinances providing coverage for additional protected classes. 

• Adhere to reasonable occupancy standards. 

• When advertising, describe the amenities of the property and its features, not your ideal tenant. 

• Provide accurate information on the qualifications needed to acquire the property. 

• Ensure that your rental or management office is accessible to wheelchairs(ADAA requirement) • Display IDHR’s fair housing poster to indicate your intent to comply with fair housing laws. 

• When purchasing a multi-family building of four or more units, ensure that if built after 1991, the building complies with fair housing design and construction requirements. A HUD guidance issued in April 2013 states that "complaints can be filed at any time that the building continues to be in noncompliance, because the discriminatory housing practice -- failure to design and construct the building in compliance -- does not terminate until the building is brought into compliance."