24 C.F.R. § 100.85
§ 100.85 Blockbusting. (24 CFR Part 100)
Operative Text
(a) It shall be unlawful, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce a person to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin or with a handicap. (b) In establishing a discriminatory housing practice under this section it is not necessary that there was in fact profit as long as profit was a factor for engaging in the blockbusting activity. (c) Prohibited actions under this section include, but are not limited to: (1) Engaging, for profit, in conduct (including uninvited solicitations for listings) which conveys to a person that a neighborhood is undergoing or is about to undergo a change in the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of persons residing in it, in order to encourage the person 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.
Under 24 CFR Part 100 § 100.85, the practice known as 'blockbusting' is prohibited under federal fair housing law. This rule makes it unlawful to use representations about the racial, religious, or other protected-class composition of a neighborhood—or its anticipated change—to pressure or persuade someone to sell or rent their home for profit. The prohibition applies even when actual profit was not realized, so long as profit was a motivating factor in the conduct.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that § 100.85 prohibits any profit-motivated solicitation or communication that suggests a neighborhood's demographic makeup is shifting in order to prompt a sale or rental listing. Compliant operators avoid uninvited solicitations that reference the protected characteristics of current or prospective residents, and they refrain from making assertions that such characteristics will lead to declining property values or deteriorating community conditions. Real estate professionals operating in compliance with this rule ensure their marketing and outreach practices are free of any messaging tied to the protected-class composition of a neighborhood.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 100.85 protects property owners and renters from being manipulated through fear-based or stereotype-driven messaging about who lives—or may soon live—in their neighborhood. If a person believes they have been subjected to blockbusting conduct, they may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or contact a local fair housing organization for guidance on available remedies. Tenants and homeowners can also consult a tenant-rights or fair housing advocacy group to better understand how this provision may apply to their circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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