Is Source of Income Discrimination Illegal for Kentucky Renters?

Understanding your fair housing rights in Kentucky is vital if you rely on non-traditional sources to pay rent, such as Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), disability benefits, or other legal income streams. Many renters ask: Can a landlord in Kentucky legally refuse my application based on where my money comes from? This article will guide you through the laws, protections, and complaint options concerning source of income discrimination in Kentucky.

What Is Source of Income Discrimination?

Source of income discrimination occurs when a landlord refuses to rent to you, terminates your lease, or treats you differently because you pay your rent using legal means other than employment, such as housing assistance vouchers, Social Security, child support, or public assistance. This type of discrimination can make it much harder to find safe housing for families using assistance.

Are There Fair Housing Protections for Source of Income in Kentucky?

Kentucky follows federal and state fair housing laws. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Source of income, however, is not included as a protected category under federal or Kentucky state law as of 2024.¹

This means landlords in most of Kentucky can legally refuse to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) or other legal sources of income. A few cities or counties elsewhere in the United States add these protections, but as of now, no Kentucky city or county bans this type of discrimination.

Summary of Kentucky Fair Housing Law

• Kentucky Commission on Human Rights enforces state-level fair housing protections
• No current Kentucky law prohibits source of income discrimination
• Protected classes in Kentucky: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status

If You Face Source of Income Discrimination

If a landlord denies your application or treats you unequally because you use a voucher or public assistance, it can feel deeply unfair. Unfortunately, unless the discrimination includes another protected class (such as race or disability), you may not have grounds for an official fair housing complaint in Kentucky based on income source alone.

However, if you believe the denial was connected to one of the recognized protected classes above, you have options for filing a complaint.

How to File a Fair Housing Discrimination Complaint in Kentucky

• Contact the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (KCHR), the official state agency overseeing fair housing complaints
• File a complaint using the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form
• Examples of when to file: If a landlord denies your application and cites your race, disability, or family status, rather than your income source

For a step-by-step guide to this process, see the "howToSteps" section below.

Understanding the Law: Kentucky Landlord-Tenant Act

The main law covering landlord-tenant relationships in Kentucky is the Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA). However, this law mostly covers topics such as evictions, rental deposits, and habitability—not fair housing discrimination. Not all counties and cities in Kentucky have adopted URLTA, so be sure to check your local rules.

Official Forms for Kentucky Renters

• Housing Discrimination Complaint Form (KCHR Form): File this form if you believe you are being discriminated against on the basis of a protected class (not source of income) in housing. For example, use if denied a rental due to your disability or race.

FAQ: Kentucky Renters and Source of Income Discrimination

1. Is it legal for a landlord in Kentucky to refuse Section 8 or voucher holders?
   Yes. There is no state or local law in Kentucky that requires landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers or other rental assistance forms as payment.
2. What should I do if I think I've been denied housing for using a voucher?
   Unless the denial also involves a protected class (such as disability or race), there may not be a legal remedy. If you feel discrimination is related to a protected class, you can file a complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.
3. Do any cities or counties in Kentucky ban source of income discrimination?
   No cities or counties in Kentucky currently have ordinances banning this type of discrimination as of 2024.
4. Does the Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act protect income source?
   No, source of income is not a protected class under this law.
5. Where can Kentucky renters go for help with discrimination concerns?
   Start with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights for fair housing issues. Local legal aid organizations can also provide help.

Key Takeaways for Kentucky Renters

• There is no law in Kentucky preventing landlords from refusing to accept Housing Choice Vouchers or other legal rent sources.
• If you face discrimination connected to another protected class, contact the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and consider filing a complaint using their official form.
• Document all interactions and save written communications if you believe your rights have been violated.

While Kentucky law does not protect renters based on source of income, always ask local authorities or legal aid about any updates or local ordinances that may affect your area.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Kentucky Commission on Human Rights – Fair Housing Division: File discrimination complaints, learn about your rights, and access official forms.
• Kentucky Legal Aid: Offers free legal advice to qualified renters across much of Kentucky.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Fair Housing: Learn about federal housing discrimination standards.
• Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act: Review the main tenant rights and responsibilities standards (may not apply in all counties).

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1. Kentucky Commission on Human Rights – Fair Housing
2. Kentucky Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA)

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