Testing, Testing, 1-2-3!
Ever been tested by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO)? If you abide by best practices and an awareness of protected classes under Fair Housing law, you may never know; violate Fair Housing law with a tester and you will most definitely know. Hopefully, your violation is minor and you will be warned for the future, but violators can be financially penalized, and the fines start at $16,000. Protected classes include, Federal: race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status (families with children), and disability; State of Oregon: marital status, source of income (now including housing subsidies like Section 8), sexual orientation, and gender identity; City of Eugene: type of occupation, ethnicity and domestic partnership. Active duty military and victims of domestic violence have additional protections under landlord-tenant law.