(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate against any person in making available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
(b) As used in this section, the term "residential real estate-related transaction" means any of the following:
(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:
A. For purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a dwelling; or
B. Secured by residential real estate.
(2) The selling, brokering or appraising of residential real property.
(c) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status.
(d) Every real estate agent shall post in a conspicuous location in that portion of his/her place of business normally used by him/her for negotiating the terms of a sale or lease of housing, and each person who operates a multi-unit residential building containing more than two units shall post at all times when prospective tenants are being interviewed, in a conspicuous location in that portion of his/her housing business normally used by him/her for negotiating the rental of a housing unit therein, a notice prepared by the Board which contains the following language, printed on black on a light-colored background, in not less than fourteen point type: "It is a violation of the Fair Housing Law of the Village of Middleport, State of Ohio, for any real estate agent or for any person owning or managing a multi-unit apartment dwelling to:
(1) Deny housing to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
(2) Discriminate against any person because of that person's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin with respect to terms, conditions or privileges of housing accommodations or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith.
(3) To include in the terms, conditions or privileges of any sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment or other transfer of any housing, any clause, condition or restriction discriminating against any person in the use or occupancy of such housing.
(4) To discriminate in the furnishing of any facilities, repairs, improvements or services or in the terms, conditions, privileges or tenure of occupancy of any person.
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST CONTACT THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEPORT FAIR HOUSING BOARD, THE OHIO CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION OR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT."
(e) It shall be unlawful for any lending institution to discriminate in lending money, guaranteeing loans, accepting a deed of trust or mortgage or otherwise making available funds for the purchase, acquisition, construction, alteration, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing or discriminate in the fixing of rates, terms, conditions or provisions of any such financial assistance.
(f) It shall be unlawful for any person or real estate agent to cause or coerce or attempt to cause or coerce retaliation against any person because such person has lawfully opposed any act or failure to act that is a violation of this chapter or has, in good faith, filed a complaint, testified, participated or assisted in any way in any proceeding under this chapter.
(g) It shall be unlawful to deny any person access to or membership or participation in any multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service, organization or facility relating to the business of the terms or conditions of such access, membership or participation on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
(Ord. 1284-94. Passed 3-1-94.)