Final answer:
A fair housing complaint must be filed with HUD within one year of the alleged discriminatory incident. This ensures compliance with the Fair Housing Act, which outlaws housing discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
When pursuing action through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a fair housing complaint, it must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.
This timeframe is critical for ensuring that claims of discrimination in housing can be properly addressed under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. HUD investigations thereon often identify discriminatory practices that, while no longer involving overt 'door slamming', are subtler and therefore more challenging to detect and rectify.