Lynwood — Ch. 54 Human Relations § 54-50
Misrepresentation
Operative Text
It is unlawful to, for profit, induce or attempt to induce a person to sell or rent a dwelling by representation regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person of a particular race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental handicap, familial status, or national origin. Actions prohibited under this section include, but are not limited to: (1) Engaging, for profit, in conduct (including uninvited solicitations from listings) which conveys to a person that a neighborhood is undergoing or is about to undergo a change in the race color, religion, sex, physical or mental handicap, familial status, or national origin of persons residing in it, in order to encourage persons to offer a dwelling for sale or rental; (2) Encouraging, for profit, any person to sell or rent a dwelling through assertions that the entry or prospective entry of persons of a particular race color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin or with handicaps can or will result in undesirable consequences for the project, neighborhood or community, such as a lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the quality of schools or other services or facilities; (3) Soliciting or entering into any agreement for the sale, lease or listing for sale or lease of any real property within the village (on the ground of loss of value) due to the present or prospective entry into any neighborhood of any person of any particular race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry; (4) Distributing or causing to be distributed, written material or statements designed to induce any person to sell or lease real property because of any alleged or actual, present or prospective change in the race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry of persons in the municipality or neighborhood; and (5) Making any representation concerning the listing for sale or the anticipated listing for sale or the sale of any real property for the purpose of inducing or attempting to induce the sales or listing for sale of any real property, that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, color, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, sexual orientation, age or ancestry in the area will or may result in the lowering of real property values in the block, neighborhood, or area in which the property is located.
Lynwood Ch. 54 § 54-50 prohibits a practice commonly known as 'blockbusting' — the for-profit use of representations about the demographic composition of a neighborhood to pressure or persuade people to sell or rent their homes. The rule covers a wide range of conduct, including uninvited solicitations, written materials, and verbal assertions that suggest a neighborhood is changing in ways that will lower property values, increase crime, or reduce school quality. The prohibition extends to characteristics including race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, creed, marital status, military discharge status, sexual orientation, age, and ancestry.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and real estate professionals operating in Lynwood should be aware that § 54-50 bars any for-profit conduct — including solicitations, written communications, or verbal statements — that links neighborhood demographic change to negative consequences in order to prompt a sale or rental. Compliant operators avoid making any representations, direct or implied, about the entry of persons of any protected class into a neighborhood when marketing or soliciting real property. Maintaining clear, fact-based communications about property conditions, rather than neighborhood demographic trends, is consistent with the conduct this section describes as lawful.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Lynwood Ch. 54 § 54-50, residents have protections against being targeted by blockbusting tactics — for-profit efforts to frighten or pressure them into selling or renting based on who is or might be moving into their neighborhood. If a person believes they have received unsolicited solicitations, written materials, or verbal representations that violate this section, general enforcement paths may include filing a complaint with the local municipality or a relevant fair housing agency, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance. Documenting any communications — including mailers, phone calls, or in-person visits — that reference neighborhood demographic change can be relevant when pursuing any of these avenues.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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