Joliet — Ch. 9½ Art. II Real Estate Transactions § 9½-32
Representations
Operative Text
It shall be an unlawful real estate practice and a violation of this article for any person, for the purpose of inducing any other person to enter into a real estate transaction with such person, his principal or his agent: (a) To represent that a change has occurred, will occur or may occur with respect to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sensory, mental or physical handicap, in the composition of the owners or occupants in any block, neighborhood, or area in which the real property which is the subject of the real estate transaction is located, or (b) To represent that a change with respect to the race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sensory, mental or physical handicap in the composition of the owners or occupants in any block, neighborhood, or area will result in the lowering of property values, or in an increase in criminal or anti-social behavior, or in a decline in the quality of schools in such blocks, neighborhood, or area.
Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. II § 9½-32 prohibits a specific form of discriminatory real estate practice commonly known as 'blockbusting.' The rule makes it unlawful for anyone involved in a real estate transaction to suggest—whether truthfully or falsely—that the demographic composition of a neighborhood is changing or will change based on characteristics such as race, religion, national origin, age, sex, or disability status. It further bars any claim that such a demographic shift will cause property values to fall, crime to rise, or school quality to decline, when those representations are made to pressure or persuade someone into a transaction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and their agents operating in Joliet should be aware that § 9½-32 of Ch. 9½ Art. II squarely prohibits using neighborhood demographic change—real, anticipated, or speculative—as a selling or leasing point. Compliant operators avoid any statements, written or verbal, that link the race, religion, national origin, age, sex, or disability status of area residents to property values, crime levels, or school quality when communicating with prospective buyers or tenants. Training staff and agents on this prohibition is a standard practice for operators seeking to remain in compliance with Joliet's fair housing requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Joliet Ch. 9½ Art. II § 9½-32, individuals who have been subjected to blockbusting-style representations during a real estate transaction have protections under local law. If a landlord, seller, or their agent made statements about neighborhood demographic changes to pressure or induce a housing decision, that conduct may constitute a violation of this article. Tenants and prospective buyers who believe they have encountered such practices can document the communications involved and explore options such as filing a complaint with a local fair housing authority or consulting a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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