For most people, obtaining homeowner¿s insurance is required to be eligible to purchase a home. Unfortunately, some insurance companies have employed discriminatory practices in determining premiums and coverage. Inner-city residents are often denied insurance coverage and, when successful, are forced to pay more for less coverage. What is Property Insurance Discrimination?
Property insurance discrimination is the unequal treatment of people in obtaining property insurance without regard to legal rights or ability. Insurance discrimination is manifested in two ways: - Discrimination based on race, sex, or religion
- Redlining, which is a practice where insurance companies limit the availability of coverage to people in particular neighborhoods, usually to the detriment of minorities
What Rights do I Have?
The federal law that protects you from being discriminated against when you apply for property insurance is the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The FHA prohibits discrimination in residential real-estate transactions based on national origin, race, sex, religion, handicaps, and familial status. What Can I Do if I Have Been Discriminated Against?
A victim of property insurance discrimination has a number of options including: - Reporting violations to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Consulting with an attorney about filing a claim under the FHA
- Legal enforcement by the Department of Justice
How Do I Prove that I Have Been Discriminated against?
In order to state a claim under the Fair Housing Act, discrimination can be shown by one of two ways: - By showing that the insurance company employed a policy that created affected people of different race, sex or religion differently
- By showing that the insurance company purposefully discriminated against the individual on account of his race, sex or religion
Should I Consult a Lawyer about my Property Insurance Discrimination Claim?
Pursing a property insurance discrimination claim against an insurance company can be complicated and stressful. An experienced real property lawyer can help you meet mandatory filing deadlines specific to your claim and preserve any legal remedies you may have. |
