Q: You just hired a new employee, who’s been criticizing the way you run the community. Her coworkers say she’s not a “team player” and have overheard her telling residents to contact HUD regarding possible...
Q: A resident asks you to waive your standard pet deposit of $1,000 so she can keep a dog as an emotional support animal. If she provides you with documentation of her disability and need for the dog, do you have to grant her request as a...
Last week, after the third confirmed case of Ebola was reported in Texas, the National Apartment Association (NAA) released an updated guidance with resources for members and residents for dealing with the Ebola virus.
A Florida community is defending a fair housing case filed by a resident who asked to keep a pit bill as an emotional support animal. The community banned residents from keeping pets, except for birds and fish, but the resident asked for a reasonable accommodation to the policy with...
Q:An African-American prospect asks an employee in your leasing office a question about how many African Americans live at your community. Can your community get into fair housing trouble if the employee answers the question, even though the...
Claims for sexual harassment, which is considered a form of housing discrimination based on sex, can cost thousands—if not millions—in settlements or court awards, civil penalties, and attorney’s fees—not to mention lasting damage to the reputation of the community,...
In the July lesson, Fair Housing Coach discusses a subject that you may be losing sleep over but don’t talk about: fear of a fair housing complaint. Perhaps you’ve been confronted by—or heard about— unhappy residents or applicants who threatened discrimination...
Earlier this month, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed legislation expanding civil rights protections for transgender individuals. Joined by leaders of the Maryland House and Senate, O’Malley signed the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014, which bans discrimination based...
The June issue of Fair Housing Coach tackles some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about fair housing rules based on disability, the most common source of discrimination complaints and lawsuits faced by multifamily housing communities today. Here are a few of the 17 FAQs from...
Each April, the nation recognizes Fair Housing Month to mark the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the landmark federal law that bans housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and family status. Earlier this month, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan...
Q:A few years ago, a resident filed a disability discrimination complaint in a dispute about assigned parking, but you settled the case by assigning her a parking space as a reasonable accommodation. Over the past six months, she paid her...
Q: A woman applies for a one-bedroom unit for herself and her baby. During the screening process, you learn that she’s currently staying with family members after moving out of her previous rental unit because of domestic abuse by her...
