What is illegal discrimination?
Landlords may not discriminate against you because of your:
- race
- color
- sex
- sexual orientation
- physical or mental impairment
- religion
- ancestry or national origin
- getting welfare
- being a single parent, being pregnant or having children
This means that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you, charge you extra, or evict you for any of these reasons.
Note: The state law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation went into effect on December 28, 2005. This law also protects transgender people. And it prohibits discrimination based on another person’s belief that you are gay or transgender, even if you are not.
What can I do about it?
If you think your landlord has illegally discriminated against you, contact Pine Tree Legal or one of these offices:
Maine Human Rights Commission 
51 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0051
phone: 624-6290 TTY: 1-888-577-6690
U.S. Fair Housing Office (HUD)
10 Causeway Street, Room 321
Boston, MA 02222-1092
phone: 1-617-994-8300 or toll free: 1-800-827-5005
TTY: 1-617-565-5453
Pine Tree Legal has more information about how a landlord must treat you fairly if you have a mental or physical impairment. You can get that information from our offices, or visit our Fair Housing for People with Disabilities page.
Read more about Fair Housing. We offer this information in several languages.
Revised August 2010