Federal rental law sources
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This source directory lists selected federal rental housing laws, regulations, agency information, and notices. Links checked August 9, 2026
If a source is hard to read, or you cannot find what you need, call 707-762-7777 or email rentals@bundesen.com and we will point you to the right official source. We cannot interpret it or give legal advice.
Source links, not legal advice. This page lists laws, regulations, and agency resources without explaining or applying them. Sources may change; consult a qualified attorney before acting.
Find a federal topic
Links below open official legal text or official government information. Source labels identify the type of material.
Fair housing
- Fair housing law and housing discrimination: HUD information and complaint intake · California agency information · statute text · California statute text
- Familial status: definition in statute
- Disability-related modifications and accommodations: California agency information · California statute text · federal statute text
Lead and consumer reports
- Lead-based-paint disclosures for sales and leases: regulation text
- Lead-safe renovation, repair, and painting: regulation text
- Consumer reports and adverse actions: statute text
Military service and survivor housing
- Military-service lease termination: Department of Justice information · statute text
- Survivor housing protections in covered federal housing programs: statute text
Agency notices
- HUD fair-housing guidance withdrawals: Federal Register notice
Federal source directory
Fair housing
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq.: uscode.house.gov.
Topics: federal fair-housing policy; chapter sections on definitions, housing-sale and rental practices, exemptions, administration, and enforcement. - 42 U.S.C. §3602(k): uscode.house.gov.
Topics: definitions used in the Fair Housing Act, including familial status in subsection (k). - 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)(A) and (B): uscode.house.gov.
Topics: housing-sale and rental discrimination; disability-related modifications and accommodations in subsection (f)(3).
Lead, screening, servicemembers, and survivor protections
- 40 C.F.R. part 745, subpart F: ecfr.gov.
Topics: lead-based-paint disclosures for sales and leases of target housing; records; agent roles; exemptions. - 40 C.F.R. part 745, subpart E: ecfr.gov.
Topics: lead-safe renovation, repair, and painting in target housing and child-occupied facilities; training; certification; work practices; records. - Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681m: uscode.house.gov.
Topics: consumer-report use and adverse actions; notices and disclosures; credit-score information; related report-user duties. - Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. §3955: uscode.house.gov.
Topics: termination of certain residential and vehicle leases connected to military service; covered orders; notice; effective timing; rent; joint leases. - Violence Against Women Act, 34 U.S.C. §12491: uscode.house.gov.
Topics: housing protections in covered federal housing programs for domestic-violence, dating-violence, sexual-assault, and stalking survivors; notices; documentation; confidentiality; lease bifurcation; emergency transfers.
Official help and forms
These agency resources are not statutes or regulations.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov/fairhousing. Paired official text: 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq..
Topics: fair-housing information; complaint intake; HUD contact points; related resources. - California Civil Rights Department: calcivilrights.ca.gov/housing. Paired official text: Government Code §12955.
Topics: California housing discrimination; protected characteristics; reasonable accommodations; complaint process; guides for housing providers and the public. - HUD, Notification of Withdrawal of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Guidance Documents: federalregister.gov.
Topics: withdrawal of identified HUD fair-housing guidance documents; agency rationale; list of affected guidance. - U.S. Department of Justice Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative: justice.gov/servicemembers. Paired official text: 50 U.S.C. §3955.
Topics: military financial and housing rights; employment; voting; consumer protection; disability rights; help reporting a rights violation.
About this page. Sources are listed by topic. Guide links are the publishing government's own explanation of the law, not ours; each is paired with the official text it explains. Links checked August 9, 2026. This page is not legal advice; the linked sources control. For advice about a specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.
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