fair housing: New Fair Housing PROTECTED CLASSES Proposed
- 11/16/11 07:55 AM
On September 22, 2011, Senator John Kerry introduced new legislation that aims to outlaw discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) Americans in the housing and credit markets, which is something that is absent (and needed) from the current version of the federal Fair Housing Act. The proposed Act is called the “Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act,” and it would amend the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or source of income. It would also amend the Equal Opportunity Credit Act to prohibit lesbian, gay, bisexual, and … (2 comments)
Using the fair housing logo is a great way to show a commitment to fair housing. Many housing providers use the Equal Housing Opportunity logo in their ads and on their written materials to show that they do business in compliance with fair housing laws. HUD requires that owners and managers display a fair housing poster with its logo at rental offices. This applies to rentals covered by the federal Fair Housing Act, and to dwellings rented through a real estate broker/agent. See 24 C.F.R. §§ 110.1 – 110.30. Who Is Required to Display a Fair Housing Poster? HUD’s … (4 comments)
fair housing: Lawsuit Filed Against Apartment Complex for Racial Discrimination
- 07/24/10 12:42 PM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. On Friday, July 19, 2010, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the owner, management company and former manager of Summerhill Place Apartments (a 268-unit apartment complex located in Renton, Washington) for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin and … (4 comments)
fair housing: Fair Housing Lawsuit Settled for $82,500
- 07/06/10 12:18 PM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) against a housing provider. I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. Earlier today (Tuesday, July 6, 2010), the owners and operators of Ivanhoe House Apartments, an apartment complex in Ann Arbor, Michigan, agreed to pay $82,500 to settle a fair housing lawsuit filed by the DOJ alleging that they had discriminated against African-American home-seekers. … (3 comments)
fair housing: What Housing Providers Need to Know About Service Animals
- 06/14/10 04:25 AM
Under the Fair Housing Act, a housing provider cannot refuse housing to someone who is disabled because of their disability. Just as important, the law requires housing providers to accommodate a person’s disability by changing or modifying a rule or policy or practice when doing so is necessary to give the disabled person equal opportunity to use and enjoy his or her unit. Under the Fair Housing Act, a housing provider who has established a "no pet" policy must allow a disabled resident to keep a service animal as a reasonable accommodation. The housing provider must allow the disabled resident … (2 comments)
fair housing: When and How a Tenant Must Request a Reasonable Accommodation/Modification
- 01/30/10 02:28 AM
Under the Fair Housing Act, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable accommodation request whenever she makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of her disability. She should explain what type of accommodation she is requesting and, if the need for the accommodation is not readily apparent or not known to the provider, explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and her disability. Similarly, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable modification request whenever she makes clear to … (0 comments)
fair housing: Lawsuit Filed Against Landlord for Racial Discrimination
- 11/25/09 02:12 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. On Tuesday (November 24, 2009), the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Terence Flanagan, a Chicago area property owner and rental agent, alleging that he refused to rent properties he owned or controlled to African-Americans, in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Flanagan … (6 comments)
fair housing: Blatant Race and Sex Discrimination at Federally-Subsidized Apartment Complex
- 11/13/09 06:40 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. Yesterday (November 12, 2009), the DOJ filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging a pattern or practice of violations of the Fair Housing Act by the owner and managers of Forum Manor Apartments, a federally-subsidized apartment complex, for refusing to rent to African-Americans and males, refusing to … (3 comments)
fair housing: $2.725 Million Settlement of Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
- 11/03/09 09:12 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit settled by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, the DOJ announced the largest monetary payment ever obtained by the DOJ in the settlement of a case alleging housing discrimination in the rental of apartments. Los Angeles apartment owner Donald T. Sterling agreed to pay $2.725 million to settle allegations that … (1 comments)
fair housing: Flagrant Violations of the Fair Housing Act in Recent Lawsuit brought by the DOJ
- 10/19/09 07:41 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. Last Friday (October 16, 2009), the DOJ filed a lawsuit against TK Properties L.L.C., its owner, and two employees (property managers), for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by harassing … (2 comments)
fair housing: Man Convicted of Criminal Interference with the Right to Fair Housing (Hate Crime)
- 10/17/09 08:10 AM
Here is another summary of a recent legal case involving a fair housing issue. This case is a little different than the typical fair housing case because it involves the criminal interference with the right to fair housing instead of the usual civil violation. Although this case doesn’t provide much guidance about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act for real estate professionals, I thought it was nevertheless interesting and worth posting. On Tuesday (October 13, 2009), a Louisiana man plead guilty to firing three shots from a shotgun at the home of three Hispanic men and, after they … (0 comments)
fair housing: Types of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibited by the Fair Housing Act
- 09/29/09 01:56 AM
The goal of the Fair Housing Act is to ensure “no person shall be subjected to discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale, rental or advertising of dwellings, in the provision of brokerage services, or in the availability of residential real-estate related transactions.” With respect to people with disabilities, the Act serves to: Give people with disabilities opportunities to choose where they want to live; Assure that reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications are made so that a person with a disability can secure and use housing as fully as a person … (1 comments)
fair housing: When and How a Tenant Must Request a Reasonable Accommodation or Permission to Make a Reasonable Modification
- 09/25/09 01:00 AM
Under the Fair Housing Act, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable accommodation request whenever she makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of her disability. She should explain what type of accommodation she is requesting and, if the need for the accommodation is not readily apparent or not known to the provider, explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and her disability. Similarly, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable modification request whenever she makes clear to the … (1 comments)
fair housing: Sexual Harassment under Fair Housing Laws
- 09/24/09 02:01 AM
Every real estate professional should already know that the Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in housing on the basis of sex. What many real estate professionals do not realize, however, is that that includes sexual harassment. Courts throughout the country have consistently recognized sexual harassment as a form of discrimination that violates the Fair Housing Act. In order to sustain a claim of sexual harassment under the Fair Housing Act, an individual must show that the sexual conduct was unwelcome. Nonetheless, if an individual submitted to the sexual conduct, that conduct still may have been unwelcome and a … (1 comments)
fair housing: Operation Home Sweet Home
- 09/24/09 01:10 AM
Ever heard of the Fair Housing testing program, where someone visits rental communities to observe customer service? HUD and local fair housing agencies use such a testing process to assess a specific complaint or to check a random market for fair housing compliance. Any applicant could be a fair housing tester. Fair housing testing is a tool used to measure the practices of housing providers relating to the Fair Housing Act. Some unlawful housing discrimination practices can only be discovered through fair housing testing. Information gathered through fair housing testing can be used as evidence to support a client’s administrative housing … (1 comments)
fair housing: Fair Housing Lawsuit Filed Alleging Racial Discrimination at Apartment Complex
- 07/21/09 07:26 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. This afternoon (July 21, 2009), the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the owner and employees of Rolling Oaks Apartments, a 72-unit complex in Clanton, Alabama, for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race or color in the rental of apartments. The lawsuit … (1 comments)
fair housing: Fair Housing Lawsuit Filed Against Mobile Home Park
- 06/25/09 04:17 AM
Here is another example of a recent Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate professionals about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue. On Friday, June 19, 2009, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the former owner and managers of Homestead Mobile Home Village, a mobile home park in Gulfport, Mississippi, for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against black tenants on the basis of race or color. The … (1 comments)
fair housing: A Few Examples of Illegal Housing Practices Against Persons with Disabilities Under the Fair Housing Act
- 05/30/09 04:41 AM
Here is a little reminder for everyone about their obligations under the Fair Housing act with respect to people with disabilities. The following are a few examples of illegal housing practices against persons with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act: Refusing to rent or sell or otherwise making unavailable to an individual with a disability a dwelling unit, because of the buyer’s or renter’s disability; Imposing different terms and conditions on the sale or rental of a dwelling unit due to the buyer’s or renter’s disability; Coercing, intimidating or threatening a person for exercising his or her rights under the … (5 comments)
fair housing: Types of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibited by the Fair Housing Act
- 05/30/09 04:38 AM
The goal of the Fair Housing Act is to ensure “no person shall be subjected to discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale, rental or advertising of dwellings, in the provision of brokerage services, or in the availability of residential real-estate related transactions.” With respect to people with disabilities, the Act serves to: Give people with disabilities opportunities to choose where they want to live; Assure that reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications are made so that a person with a disability can secure and use housing as fully as a person … (0 comments)
fair housing: Rules About When and How a Tenant Must Request a Reasonable Accommodation or Permission to Make a Reasonable Modification
- 05/30/09 04:17 AM
Under the Fair Housing Act, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable accommodation request whenever she makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of her disability. She should explain what type of accommodation she is requesting and, if the need for the accommodation is not readily apparent or not known to the provider, explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and her disability. Similarly, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable modification request whenever she makes clear to … (0 comments)
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