Online Alerts

COACH's Pop Quiz!

November 1, 2023    

Q: Your property is located in San Antonio where local ordinance bans military status discrimination. A naval officer has been assigned to a new base and needs a one-bedroom apartment right away. The only one-bedroom apartment that’s...

High-End Real Estate Brokers Sued for Source of Income Discrimination

October 4, 2023    

In New York City, a woman with a Section 8 voucher recently sued real estate firm Douglas Elliman and 35 of its agents “for failing to help her find low incoming housing.” The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims she sent emails to the agents asking for help finding Section 8...

Fair Housing Violations Get More Costly

September 5, 2023    

Earlier this year, HUD published inflation-adjusted civil penalty amounts for individuals or companies that were found to have violated a variety of different housing-related laws, including the federal Fair Housing Act.

Don't Use ChatGPT for Marketing Purposes

August 2, 2023    

Hidden flaws in the technology can expose you to fair housing liability.

Like other real estate businesses, you may be using ChatGPT, Bard, Bing, and other generative AI products, a.k.a. chatbots, for marketing purposes, such as developing advertising strategies, analyzing...

Housing Advocacy Group Can Sue NY Landlords for Source of Income Discrimination

July 5, 2023    

A nonprofit housing group sued real estate agents, brokerage firms, property management companies, and landlords, claiming intentional and willful source of income discrimination in violation of New York City and New York State Human Rights Laws.

After using testers to investigate, the...

Bill Introduced to Expand FHA's List of Protected Classes

June 5, 2023    

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) recently introduced the “Fair Housing Improvement Act” to protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination.

HUD Announces $3M Settlement in Family Discrimination Complaint

May 1, 2023    

HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) recently announced a...

HUD Reinstates Discriminatory Effects Rule

March 29, 2023    

HUD recently announced that it plans to restore the 2013 “discriminatory effects” rule to the Fair Housing Act (FHA). HUD has submitted to the Federal Register the final rule, which rescinds a 2020 rule governing “disparate impact” claims and...

HUD Proposes New Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule

March 1, 2023    

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) not only makes it unlawful for cities, counties, and other jurisdictions to discriminate, but also requires jurisdictions receiving federal funds for housing and urban development to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH). In other words, the FHA requires them to...

Citizenship Requirements at HUD-Assisted Sites

February 17, 2023    

Last week’s Pop Quiz posed a question about when you can reject applicants who aren’t U.S. citizens without risking fair housing trouble. The answer was when being a U.S. citizen is required for leasing...

COACH's Pop Quiz!

February 3, 2023    

Can You Reject Applicants Based on Their Immigration Status?   

 

Which of the following reasons is a legitimate reason to reject applicants who aren’t U.S. citizens?

a.           ...

Landlords Are Liable for Discrimination of Their Staff

January 3, 2023    

There are two basic ways you, as a landlord, can be liable for housing discrimination:

  • You commit discrimination personally; and/or
  • Your agents commit discrimination in the course of carrying out their employment duties or otherwise pursuing your interests....