What role do fair housing testers perform?

Fair housing testers play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with fair housing laws by evaluating the practices of housing providers, such as landlords and real estate agents, to determine whether they treat consumers differently based on protected statuses, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

By posing as potential renters or buyers, testers can uncover discriminatory practices that may not be evident through regular assessments or surveys. For instance, they might compare the responses they receive to inquiries about rental properties, noting differences in treatment or information provided when one tester identifies with a protected class and another does not. This investigative method is essential for identifying violations of the Fair Housing Act and promoting equal housing opportunities.

In contrast, roles such as financial auditors or providing legal advice do not align with the primary function of testers, which centers on testing and gathering evidence related to housing discrimination. Similarly, while investigating real estate trends might involve looking at broader market behaviors and statistics, it does not specifically address the individual actions of housing providers in terms of fair treatment based on protected statuses. Testers specifically focus on potential discrimination, making their work pivotal in enforcing fair housing regulations.