Online Alerts, HUD News, Cases and Settlements, Reports and Studies, Other

NYC Owners, Brokers Settle Source-of-Income Discrimination Lawsuit

May 31, 2022    

Twenty-three owners and apartment brokers in New York City recently agreed to enact reforms to resolve a lawsuit alleging that they routinely turned away prospective tenants seeking to use federal vouchers to supplement their rent. Originally filed in March 2022, the lawsuit claimed that 88...

Is It Okay to Show Limited Availability of Units Online?

May 18, 2022    

Q: Is there a potential fair housing problem with advertising online that we have, say, two available units at our property, when in fact we have, say, five units? If someone comes to the property, we will show all five units. But we want to...

Senior Housing Provider Accused of Discriminating Against Transgender Applicant

May 2, 2022    

In March, the Maine Human Rights Commission found evidence that an assisted living provider violated state nondiscrimination protections when it denied an applicant a room because she is a transgender woman.

HUD Signals Renewed Focus on Fair Housing Enforcement

April 20, 2022    

April is Fair Housing Month, and HUD declared this year’s theme to be Fair Housing: More Than Just Words. The theme underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to advancing equity in housing and securing equal access to housing opportunities for all.

In other words: Fair...

COACH's Pop Quiz!

April 5, 2022    

Q: While preparing to open your community’s swimming pool for the summer, you review your pool rules. You want to prevent kids from drowning by requiring them to be responsibly supervised when using the pool. Local ordinances stipulate...

Las Vegas Landlord Settles Claims of Disability Discrimination

February 23, 2022    

HUD recently announced that it has approved a Conciliation Agreement with a Las Vegas landlord and his property manager to resolve allegations of discrimination brought by a prospective tenant with a disability. The...

COACH's Pop Quiz!

January 31, 2022    

In a recent case, a tenant claimed she needed an emotional support animal for a mental disability and asked the homeowners association board for an exemption from the community’s no-pet policy. Since the tenant’s disability isn’t readily apparent, the board asked her for...

California Landlords Settle Claims of Discrimination Against LEP Renters

January 3, 2022    

The management agents and owners of four HUD-subsidized apartment complexes in Southern California recently reached a Conciliation/Voluntary Compliance Agreement with HUD, resolving allegations that the property managers refused to rent to or provide adequate language services for applicants...

COACH's Pop Quiz: Holiday Edition

December 1, 2021    

Q: Your community allows residents to reserve the common room for parties and other social activities, including Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations. A resident asks if he can reserve the room to host a pagan celebration to mark the winter...

Q&A: Requesting Documentation of Domestic Abuse Under VAWA

October 26, 2021    

Q: I manage rental properties that participate in HUD programs. A tenant claims her boyfriend is abusing her and asked me to transfer her to a different unit at one of our other properties. I know that under the Violence Against Women Act (...

Landlords' Broad COVID Visitor Policy Violates FHA

October 25, 2021    

HUD recently signed a Conciliation Agreement/Voluntary Compliance Agreement with owners of a HUD-subsidized community in Fairhope, Ala. The agreement resolves allegations and a HUD investigation into whether the owners’ policy prohibiting visitors under the age of 12 due to COVID-19 was...

Arizona Owner Fails to Fulfill Reasonable Accommodation Involving Notices

October 4, 2021    

HUD recently announced that it has approved a Conciliation/Voluntary Compliance Agreement between the Housing Authority of Maricopa County, in Mesa, Ariz., and one of its residents who has a mental health disability. Under the agreement, the housing authority will pay $10,000 to the tenant and...