The housing discrimination act, otherwise known as the fair housing act, is an act that disallows discrimination in housing. The act exists as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, a civil rights legislation passed in the year 1968. According to these laws, providers of housing cannot discriminate in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or other qualities irrelevant to their business needs. However, there are also lawful forms of discrimination outlined. This includes credit history, low income, or other clearly relevant reasons, which must be documented as proof. The housing discrimination act generally applies to landlords and real estate companies, but also prohibits banks, lenders, and insurance companies from discriminating also.