Pennsylvania Code › Title 16 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Part II - Governor's Office › Subpart A - Human Relations Commission › Chapter 45 - HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS/COMMERCIAL PROPERTY › Subchapter B - HOUSING ADVERTISEMENTS-GUIDELINES AND STATEMENT OF POLICY › LIST OF WORDS OR PHRASES TO AVOID › Section 45.181 - Words to be avoided

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) It is
						unlawful to use the following words or phrases in housing advertisements unless
						used in a clearly nondiscriminatory context such as "white cabinets" or "french
						doors." The list is neither intended nor reasonably able to be all inclusive.
						It is also unlawful to use words or phrases not appearing on the list, but
						which are used in a context which may reasonably be interpreted as indicating
						an unlawful discriminatory intent.
Able-bodied adult
-If the housing is
						  "housing for older persons" as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act
						  (42 U.S.C.A. §§
														3601-3619) and the act, it is
						  appropriate to say so.
(i) A
						newspaper/publisher may publish an advertisement for housing, and be held
						harmless for liability for an advertisement which uses the terms "senior
						housing," "senior community," "retirement community," if the advertiser
						provides a statement formally, in writing, to the newspaper/publisher that the
						property being advertised meets the requirements for "housing for older
						persons" as defined in the act.
(ii) Equivalent phrases referring to persons
						55 and 62 and older such as "adult community," "55 and over," "adult
						community," "62 and over," "adult 55+," "adult 62+" to describe housing for
						older persons, will also be acceptable.
(iii) The term "adult" alone or with terms
						that do not meet housing for older persons requirements will remain unlawful
						terms as a description of housing for older persons.
African-American
Asian
American
Ancestry (any)
Black
Blind
Buddhist
Catholic
Caucasian
Chicano/Chicana
Child/children-Restrictions, unless housing for older
						  persons
Chinese
Christian
Church, near
Color (any when used to describe persons)
Colored
Couple
Crippled
Deaf
Disability (any)-It is acceptable to describe housing
						  as accessible to persons with disabilities. It is not acceptable to attempt to
						  limit the housing to certain persons by stating that it is not
						  accessible.
Disabled
Empty nester
Ethnic neighborhood
Ethnic group (any)
Foreigners
Handicapped
Hindi
Hispanic
Ideal for . . . (a type of person)
Immigrants
Independently, capable of living
Indian
Integrated
Interracial
Irish
Jew/Jewish
Latino/Latina
Mentally handicapped, ill, retarded
Mexican-American
Middle Eastern(er)
Minority
Mixed community
Mormon
Moslem
Mosque, near
Muslim
Nationality (any)
Newlyweds
Parish, near
Perfect for (a type of person)
Polish
Prefer Protestant
Puerto Rican
Race (any, when used to describe a person)
Religion (any, when used to describe persons)
Retarded Retired persons, retirees-If it is "housing
						  for older persons," as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act and the act, use
						  that phrase, as many people who are retired may not qualify for housing for
						  older persons while many people still working may in fact be eligible for
						  housing for older persons.
Segregated
Senior Use-"housing for older persons," as defined by
						  the Federal Fair Housing Act and the act. See note under "adult" and "retired
						  persons." Many people who do not consider themselves senior may be eligible for
						  housing for older persons.
Suitable for
Synagogue, near
Temple, near
White
Young
Youthful