Landlord Accused of Discriminating Against Teenager’s Mom

A Michigan landlord recently agreed to settle a discrimination claim based on familial status for allegedly denying housing to the mother of a teenager.

The complaint, filed with the assistance of the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan, claimed that the landlord showed the prospect a unit over a storefront, but then refused to rent it to her after discovering that the prospect had a 15-year-old son.

The complaint was initially filed with HUD, which transferred it for investigation by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Allegedly, the department found a posting in the storefront by the landlord prohibiting children. As a result, the Fair Housing Center sent testers who acted as potential home seekers and reported their experiences to the Fair Housing Center staff.

Under the terms of the settlement, the landlord agreed to reimburse the prospect for her expenses and to attend fair housing training.

Sources: Michigan Department of Civil Rights; Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan