---
kind: "section"
citation: "12 U.S.C. § 4545"
title: "12"
title_heading: "Banks and Banking"
number: "4545"
heading: "Fair housing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/12/4545"
units:
  - "Chapter 46 — Government Sponsored Enterprises"
  - "Subchapter I — Supervision and Regulation of Enterprises"
  - "Part B — Additional Authorities of the Director"
  - "Subpart 1 — general authority"
---

# §4545. Fair housing


The [Secretary](/usc/12/1715z–22a.md?p=4) of Housing and Urban Development shall—

- (1) by regulation, prohibit each [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) from discriminating in any manner in the purchase of any [mortgage](/usc/12/1707.md?p=a) because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, age, or national origin, including any consideration of the age or location of the dwelling or the age of the neighborhood or census tract where the dwelling is located in a manner that has a discriminatory effect;
- (2) by regulation, require each [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) to submit data to the [Secretary](/usc/12/1715z–22a.md?p=4) to assist the [Secretary](/usc/12/1715z–22a.md?p=4) in investigating whether a [mortgage](/usc/12/1707.md?p=a) lender with which the [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) does business has failed to comply with the Fair Housing Act [[42 U.S.C. 3601](/usc/42/3601.md) et seq.];
- (3) by regulation, require each [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) to submit data to the [Secretary](/usc/12/1715z–22a.md?p=4) to assist in investigating whether a [mortgage](/usc/12/1707.md?p=a) lender with which the [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) does business has failed to comply with the Equal [Credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) Opportunity Act [[15 U.S.C. 1691](/usc/15/1691.md) et seq.], and shall submit any such information received to the appropriate Federal [agencies](/usc/12/4502.md?p=2), as provided in section 704 of the Equal [Credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) Opportunity Act [[15 U.S.C. 1691c](/usc/15/1691c.md)], for appropriate action;
- (4) obtain information from other regulatory and enforcement [agencies](/usc/12/4502.md?p=2) of the Federal Government and [State](/usc/12/4502.md?p=22) and local governments regarding [violations](/usc/12/4502.md?p=25) by lenders of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal [Credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) Opportunity Act and make such information available to the [enterprises](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10);
- (5) direct the [enterprises](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) to undertake various remedial actions, including suspension, probation, reprimand, or settlement, against lenders that have been found to have engaged in discriminatory lending practices in [violation](/usc/12/4502.md?p=25) of the Fair Housing Act or the Equal [Credit](/usc/12/5481.md?p=7) Opportunity Act, pursuant to a final adjudication on the record, and after opportunity for an administrative hearing, in accordance with subchapter II of [chapter 5](/usc/5/chptI/ch5.md) of title 5; and
- (6) periodically review and comment on the underwriting and appraisal guidelines of each [enterprise](/usc/12/4502.md?p=10) to ensure that such guidelines are consistent with the Fair Housing Act and this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–550, title XIII, § 1325, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3955; Pub. L. 110–289, div. A, title I, § 1122(b), July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2689.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Fair Housing Act, referred to in pars. (2) and (4) to (6), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3601 of Title 42 and Tables.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, referred to in pars. (3) to (5), is title VII of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 93–495, title V, § 503, Oct. 28, 1974, 88 Stat. 1521, which is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 1691 et seq.) of chapter 41 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 15 and Tables.

### Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–289 inserted “of Housing and Urban Development” after “The Secretary” in introductory provisions.