Fair Housing and Property Disclosures
Pennsylvania licensees must comply with the Human Relations Act and the state's seller disclosure requirements. This chapter covers fair-housing obligations, the residential seller disclosure statement, and advertising compliance.
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on protected classes recognized under state law, complementing the federal Fair Housing Act. Licensees must comply in advertising, showing, and negotiating, and may not steer or discriminate based on protected class.
Seller Property Disclosure
Pennsylvania's Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law generally requires the seller of residential real property to complete a property disclosure statement identifying known material defects. Licensees must not help conceal known defects. This state obligation is distinct from federal lead-based-paint disclosure, which also applies to qualifying older housing.
Advertising Compliance
A supervising broker must ensure firm advertising is truthful, identifies the brokerage as required, and does not steer or discriminate based on protected class. Misleading promises or discriminatory advertising violate RELRA and fair-housing law and expose the broker to discipline.