NY Landlord Pays $400K to Settle Sexual Harassment Claim

A settlement was recently reached on behalf of a fair housing organization and eight women who accused an Oswego, N.Y., landlord of demanding sexual favors as a condition of tenancy. Under the settlement, the landlord will be permanently barred from managing rental properties and will be required to pay $400,000 in monetary relief.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit alleging that female prospects and residents of rental properties owned by the landlord were subjected to egregious sexual harassment, including unwanted sexual contact, in violation of the federal fair housing law. The Fair Housing Act protects against discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, in housing-related transactions.

Under the settlement, the landlord agreed to employ an independent management company approved by the fair housing organization to manage his rental properties. He’s also prohibited from having any contact with prospects or residents and from entering any occupied rental properties he owns.