Attorney General Kris Mayes of Arizona has initiated a comprehensive campaign targeting housing discrimination, designed to empower residents with knowledge about their legal rights when renting homes; this campaign includes a series of advertisements in both English and Spanish that will be distributed over various digital platforms, streaming services, and radio outlets, according to an official press release.
"Every Arizonan deserves to be treated fairly and equally under the law when securing housing," noted Mayes, highlighting her office's commitment to educating the public on recognizing illegal housing practices such as discrimination due to emotional support animals, unjust retaliation for reporting discrimination, disparate deposit requirements based on familial status, as well as instances of disability discrimination and on the darker side, demands for sexual favors instead of necessary home repairs.
The Attorney General's office puts forth guidelines for Arizona residents to proactively safeguard themselves against housing discrimination, with extensive advice to thoroughly read rental-related paperwork; keep records of questions and their answers; preserve crucial documents like lease agreements, rental applications, and incident reports; maintain copies of all communication with property managers and rental assistance organizations; document any financial transactions, including those related to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Veteran Affairs (VA); photograph property conditions at move-in and move-out, and chronicle all events in a clear timeline.
Complementing these steps, Mayes also suggests the use of a buddy system for in-person engagements with landlords or housing agents and insists on acquiring written records for all promises and important interactions; these instructions aim at equipping tenants with a robust evidentiary arsenal should they need to contest discriminatory treatment or hold lessors accountable for unlawful actions, furthermore, the Attorney General urges those who suspect they've been subjected to such inequality to reach out and file a formal complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General’s Office.
For residents in need of support or those seeking to learn more about their rights and how to mobilize against unfair housing practices, detailed information, and resources are provided on the Attorney General's official website.