All right. A couple of readers have asked me to comment on the November 2020 presidential election and what, if anything, the election may mean for fair housing. While I desperately try to avoid politics here at the Fair Housing Defense Blog, this is what I can report. Our federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) was
General Fair Housing News & Developments
HUD Settles Two Fair Housing Act Cases: One for $8,000 and One for $6,000
In separate releases issued earlier today, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced that it settled two housing discrimination matters: one from California for $6,000 and one from Hawaii for $8,000. In the California case, the complainants claimed that housing providers declined to offer them a two bedroom unit because they have…
COVID-19: CDC Issues Pandemic Economic Hardship Eviction Hold Until The End of 2020
In a bit of a surprise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just issued a nationwide order halting many pandemic-related residential evictions through the end of 2020. At first glance, the order looks to cover more than 40 million residential renters if they meet certain defined income and other eligibility requirements. This new…
Some Additional COVID-19 Related Questions and Answers
A couple of (well, four) quick pandemic-centric questions today:
- As we have all seen over the past few months, some amenities at apartment communities (gyms, pools, fitness centers, community rooms, games rooms, and the like) were closed or remain closed because of government health restrictions. Can residents pay reduced rent because amenities bargained for are
…
HUD Settles Three Housing Discrimination Cases From Arkansas for $51,000
Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced it resolved three fair housing cases from Arkansas, settling allegations that the owners and property management company discriminated against a number of residents because of their national origin. Additionally, one of the now settled claims asserted that management retaliated against an employee who…
Update on Residential Evictions in the COVID Era
I get questions from time to time about the status of evictions during the pandemic. In short, there are no easy answers and guidance changes monthly (or even weekly). Displacing anyone from their home is unpleasant at any time. And the pandemic makes it even worse. While I certainly understand the reasoning around stopping evictions…
Can Apartment Management Restrict Political Signs in Windows and on Doors? Read On.
With the 2020 presidential election less than three months away, I had an interesting question hit my desk: can a property management company restrict residents from placing political signs on their exterior windows, doors, and/or balconies? With some exceptions (noted below), the answer looks to generally be yes. Now, of course residents have First Amendment…
COVID Eviction Pause Update — Check With Your Local Court
As written here and elsewhere, navigating traditional landlord/tenant legal matters during the past few months has been complicated. Management wants and needs to have compassion for all of our residents who have been impacted by the global pandemic. I know many leasing offices and legal departments have been evaluating hardships and literally working side by…
HUD Awards Over $40 Million for Fair Housing Enforcement and Training
If professional apartment management thought that fair housing enforcement would stop because of a global pandemic, well – think again. Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced over $40 million in grants to local fair housing advocacy groups from coast to coast. These individual grants, running in the hundreds of…
HUD Charges Wisconsin Property Owner/Manager with Disability Discrimination Related to an Assistance Animal
Pursuant to a release issued last week, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) stated it charged the owner and manager of apartment homes in Wisconsin with housing discrimination for allegedly refusing to rent to two individuals because of a claimed disability and related need for an assistance animal.
The HUD charge asserts…