Steering – Directing prospective buyers or tenants into or away from certain areas on illegal discrimination grounds. In leasing properties it could include a landlord or property manager placing members of protected classes in certain areas, floors, or buildings. Steering is an example of a practice which would violate the Fair Housing Act.
Example: In the process of marketing and arranging showings within a large residential real estate development, a real estate broker directs potential homebuyers of one color towards one area of the development while also channeling potential homebuyers of another color towards a different area. The real estate broker’s intentional directing of prosepctive buyers towards certain areas based on color would be an example of illegal steering and is a prohibited practice.
