Attorney General Mayes Launches Campaign to Combat Housing Discrimination

PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced a public awareness campaign on housing discrimination and renters' legal rights. The campaign will include ads in English and Spanish across online platforms, streaming services, and radio.

"Every Arizonan deserves to be treated fairly and equally under the law when securing housing," said Attorney General Mayes. "My office is committed to ensuring that all residents understand their rights, recognize what constitutes illegal discrimination, and know what steps to take if they have been discriminated against."

The ads will highlight housing practices that may violate the Arizona Fair Housing Act such as discrimination due to emotional support animals, retaliation for reporting discrimination, being forced to pay higher deposits due to familial status, demands of sexual favors for repairs, and disability discrimination.

Attorney General Mayes also encourages Arizonans to take the following proactive steps to protect themselves from housing discrimination:

Read through the paperwork

• Read through all paperwork related to your housing. If you do not understand something, ask questions.
• Keep a record of your questions and the answers you received.

Save Important Documents:

• Any documents you submitted or signed, including your lease agreement and any addenda.
• Your rental application, confirmation of receipt, and any denials (with written reasons).
• Copies of all policies and notices.
• Rules and Regulations and CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions)
• Documentation of any eviction proceedings, incident reports, or police reports.
• Copies of any printed, online, or social media advertisements about the property.

Keep Copies of Communications:

• All communications between you and the owner of the property, management, maintenance staff, including emails, texts, voicemails, app or portal entries, work order requests, and phone records.
• All communication between you, your housing provider, and any organization that provides rental assistance.
• Screenshots of text messages, photos, and video/audio recordings related to your rental.
• Copies of complaints sent to management, the housing provider, or government agencies.
• Copies of any requests you made for a reasonable accommodation or modification, any records you provided, and the housing provider's response.

Track Financial Transactions:

• Copies of your payments, confirmations, SSDI/SSI/VA letters, and receipts for any items paid for that weren't covered by the housing provider.
• Copies of any HOA fines and confirmation of payments.

Document Property Condition:

• Take photos and/or videos of the property's condition on your first and last day.
• Write down any problems with the apartment or house upon move in and keep a record that you have provided it to the owner or management.

Get Written Proof:

• Get all promises in writing and keep written records of all key interactions.

Use a Buddy System:

• Have a friend or other person with you when speaking with the owner, management, or agent - especially if you are meeting in person.

Create a Timeline:

• Document and organize events as they happen to keep a clear timeline of interactions and issues.

Attorney General Mayes urges anyone who believes they have experienced housing discrimination to file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's Office.

Video ads are available in English here and Spanish here.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.