michigan: Disability Laws that Apply to Housing in Michigan
- 02/08/09 07:53 AM
The following disability-related laws apply to housing in Michigan: Fair Housing Act: The federal Fair Housing Act (Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, which became effective March 12, 1989) prohibits sellers or people in the real estate industry from discriminating against people because of their disability or the disability of anyone associated with them. The laws also include accessibility design and construction requirements for multifamily housing. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Section 504 prohibits discrimination based on disability in any housing, program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Americans with Disabilities Act: In most cases, the ADA does … (0 comments)
michigan: Discrimination in Housing Based Upon Sex, Including Sexual Harassment
- 02/07/09 10:38 PM
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. In recent years, the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") has been looking more closely at sexual harassment in housing in its Fair Housing enforcement efforts. Women, particularly those who are poor, and with limited housing options, often have little recourse but to tolerate the humiliation and degradation of sexual harassment or risk having their families and themselves removed from their homes. … (0 comments)
michigan: Michigan Laws Related to Mold
- 02/06/09 03:31 AM
Are there laws in the State of Michigan related to mold issues? It might seem surprising, but the State of Michigan does not have laws that require anyone to cleanup, remove, or report mold in any indoor environment. Also, the State of Michigan does not have a program to address issues related to mold, other than to provide people basic information about mold clean-up. Moreover, the State of Michigan does not certify or license contractors for mold removal. However, laws do exist that cover certain situations that involve indoor mold. The following is a list government agencies that may be able … (0 comments)
michigan: US Department of Justice Settles Fair Housing Act Case Brought Against Owners and Operators of Michigan Apartment Complex for $50,000
- 02/06/09 01:36 AM
I was in the process of updating the online fair housing continuing education courses offered by my school (www.123ConEd.com), when I came across this recent Fair Housing Act case. Because Fair Housing is such an important topic, I thought that I'd post a summary of this case. On January 18, 2007, the United States Department of Justice settled a fair housing retaliation case against the owners, operators and managers of Fairway Trails Apartments, an apartment complex located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The case was brought under the Fair Housing Act against Nicole Morbach (property manager), Benchmark Management Corporation (management company), Benchmark Michigan … (0 comments)
michigan: Michigan Court of Appeals Affirms Jury Verdict for a Home Buyer Who Did Not Get a Home Inspection as a Result of Listing Agent’s Representations that House was in “Top-Notch” Condition
- 02/06/09 01:17 AM
Here is a summary of a case that was recently decided by the Michigan Court of Appeals relating to the liability of real estate professionals for representations made during the purchase/sale of a home. Stout v. Christina Withrow, Carol Williams-Nakoneczny and Century 21 Real Estate 217, No. 271632, 2008 WL 400695 (Mich. Ct. App., decided Feb. 14, 2008). Plaintiff Sandra Stout was looking to purchase a new home. To help with her search, she met with defendant Carol Williams-Nakoneczny (“Agent”), who was a licensed real estate agent with defendant Century 21 Real Estate 217. Agent showed plaintiff an old farmhouse in … (3 comments)
michigan: Real Estate Assistant’s Claim for Personal Injury from Falling Down Stairs Barred Under Open and Obvious Doctrine
- 02/06/09 01:06 AM
Here is a summary of a case that was decided several months ago by the Michigan Court of Appeals that concerns a lawsuit filed by a real estate assistant who was injured while showing a house. Dyer v. Russell, No. 273574, 2007 WL 4415467 (Mich. Ct. App., decided December 18, 2007). Plaintiff Amy Dyer, a licensed realtor’s assistant, went to defendant’s home for the purpose of showing the house to potential buyers. While walking down defendant’s basement staircase, she slipped and fell. Plaintiff brought suit against defendant on a premises liability (negligence) theory. The trial court granted defendant’s later motion for … (0 comments)
michigan: Fair Housing Testing Program
- 02/05/09 07:45 AM
As a real estate professional, you need to be aware that there are "secret shoppers" scouting open houses and rental vacancies trying to catch real estate agents in a fair housing violation. Those "secret shoppers" are fair housing testers. Fair housing testing is an invaluable tool used in measuring 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 discrimination complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") … (0 comments)
michigan: List of Activities that Assistants (Who are Not Licensed Real Estate Salespersons) Can Perform in Michigan
- 02/05/09 02:50 AM
Each year, Michigan real estate professionals make dozens of phone calls to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth ("DLEG") requesting information about activities that an unlicensed individual may perform. In an effort to provide guidance and to help reduce a broker's exposure to potential risk in the utilization of unlicensed assistants, the DLEG published a list of guidelines, which were modeled after an article written by Tom Kotzian (Macomb County Association of Realtors) and approved by Ann Millben (Licensing Administrator for Real Estate for the DLEG). Here are the guidelines provided by the DLEG: Unlicensed Assistants MAY: Assist licensees … (1 comments)
michigan: Justice Department Settles Lawsuit with Landlord Alleging Discrimination Against Families with Children for $145,000
- 02/02/09 10:40 AM
I was in the process of updating the online fair housing continuing education courses offered by my school (www.123ConEd.com), when I came across this recent Fair Housing Act case. Although this case was filed in Louisiana and not in Michigan, the case is still instructive for Michigan real estate professionals because it was brought under the federal Fair Housing Act, which applies equally in all states. Because Fair Housing is such an important topic, I thought that I'd post a summary of this recent case. On September 30, 2008, the United States Department of Justice settled a fair housing lawsuit for … (3 comments)
michigan: Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Race Discrimination at Roseville, Michigan, Apartment Complex for $170,000
- 02/02/09 06:27 AM
I was in the process of updating the online fair housing continuing education courses offered by my school (www.123ConEd.com), when I came across this recent Michigan Fair Housing Act case. Because Fair Housing is such an important topic, I thought that I'd post a summary of this recent case. In late November 2008, the United States Department of Justice settled a fair housing lawsuit for $170,000 against the owners and managers of Regent Court Apartments in Roseville, Michigan. The lawsuit alleged that the owners and managers had discriminated against African-Americans who were seeking to rent apartments at the complex. Specifically, the … (2 comments)
michigan: New Michigan Fair Housing Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court
- 02/02/09 05:53 AM
I was in the process of updating the online fair housing continuing education courses offered by my school (www.123ConEd.com), when I came across this recent Michigan Fair Housing Act case. Because Fair Housing is such an important topic I thought that I'd post a summary of this recent case, which was just filed in court four days ago. On January 29, 2009, the United States Department of Justice filed a new fair housing lawsuit against two Ypsilanti, Michigan, landlords for sexual harassment. The suit was filed against Ronald D. Peterson and Glen E. Johnson, the owner and rental manager, respectively, of … (2 comments)
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The following disability-related laws apply to housing in Michigan:
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