There are over 33,000 fair housing complaints filed annually, with that number growing every year.  A single fair housing investigation/complaint can cost anywhere from $10,000 to well over $100,000.  Fair housing training is designed to educate all housing providers and their employees on how to comply with fair housing requirements and best practices to avoid violations and their costly consequences.

Fair housing is a broad topic that covers dozens of subtopics.  You may be familiar with some of them like reasonable accommodations, assistance animals, and criminal history screening.  But there is a good chance there are many you aren’t aware of.  We break all of these topics down into easy to understand lessons and practical examples you can use on the job.  Check our course syllabuses for more information.

Fair housing training isn’t federally required, but it’s essential for any staff who interact with residents to receive annual training to demonstrate a commitment to compliance and reduce the risk of violations. We recommend new employees complete a comprehensive course, like our Basics of Fair Housing Certification, within their first 30 days. Afterward, staff should participate in annual refresher training, alternating between in-depth courses and shorter reviews. This keeps the information fresh, engaging, and encourages retention so they can use their training in their day to day work.

Ultimately, the decision about training requirements—such as length and topics—falls to your company. We’re happy to discuss specifics to help meet your team’s needs.

Fair housing training is not universally accredited by the federal government or most states, but there are exceptions in Texas and Virginia for housing providers receiving low-income tax credits. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs  (TDHCA)  and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) have agencies that review and approve training. We are proud to share that we are an approved trainer of both the TDHCA and DPOR.

In other states, there are no formal approval systems. That being said, we train tens of thousands of housing providers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico every year. Training is often only reviewed during fair housing complaints or lawsuits, where the training’s topics, length, and sources may be scrutinized. While no training provider can guarantee compliance in every case by case scenario, FHI’s courses have consistently met high standards when reviewed by HUD, DOJ, and other agencies.  Likewise our training has been used for CECs by hundreds of organizations across the country.

Yes, our fair housing courses are fully online and designed to be user-friendly and interactive. Whether you’re a property manager, maintenance staff, or housing provider, our on-demand courses allow you to learn at your own pace, anytime and anywhere. Our offerings include detailed certifications like the Basics of Fair Housing Certification Course, as well as shorter course options to fit your schedule and training needs.

Yes, we offer dedicated customer support to ensure you have a seamless training experience. Our team is available to assist with any questions about accessing courses, troubleshooting issues, or making sure you have the right training courses that fit your team. You can reach out to us via our support page here. We’re committed to providing prompt and helpful assistance.