In some areas, housing providers may deny or change housing based on a person's race, usably in an effort to avert a certain type of person from living in a neighborhood. When a landlord or seller does this, they are in violation of the law and may be subject to penalty. Not only is racial discrimination prohibited on a grand scale, it is also specifically illegal in terms of housing laws. According to the Fair Housing Act, racial discrimination in housing transactions violates a citizen's right to housing. In fact, racial discrimination was one of the primary reasons why the act was created. In addition to racial discrimination, housing laws also restrict discrimination on the basis of religion, origin, sex, age, or disability.