Only the discriminations outlined in the law are illegal bases for refusing to rent or sell. A person who believes that a landlord is illegally discriminating may choose between two legal paths. Another option is to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit. For the complainant, the administrative course requires only time and effort while hiring an attorney and filing suit can be a costly endeavor. If the tenant's goal is to rent the unit, the former is the wiser route to take while the latter is if receiving large punitive damages is the aim.
Time limits do exist for filing a complaint.
A person must file a complaint on the federal level within 180 days of the discrimination. State law requires shorter time periods.