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Question: While screening an applicant, you learn about frequent complaints and calls to police about domestic disturbances involving the resident and her former boyfriend at her prior residence. Because you’re concerned about the safety and welfare of your current residents, you cannot be held liable for denying the application based on her poor rental history. True or false?
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the January 2012 lesson of Fair Housing Coach focuses on discrimination based on race—the bedrock of fair housing law. For much of the law’s history, the majority of formal fair housing complaints were based on race. Although disability claims now hold the top spot, race discrimination complaints remain a close second—accounting for roughly a third of all formal fair housing complaints.
In its December 2011 lesson, Fair Housing Coach reviews the fair housing implications of a significant problem—hoarding. Reality TV has raised awareness of the issue, but the numbers are staggering—some experts say that up to 5 percent, or 15 million Americans—suffer from this complicated disorder.
In multifamily housing, hoarding may pose serious health and safety concerns, including injury or disease risks, fire hazards, and structural damage—not only to the affected unit, but also to neighboring units and the community at large.
Last week, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced a bill to outlaw discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) Americans in the housing and credit markets. The bill also would ban housing discrimination based on marital status and source of income. Rep. Jerrold Nadler introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
The October issue of Fair Housing Coach reviews the fair housing provisions banning discrimination based on sex. The law prohibits a broad array of discriminatory practices against either men or women because of their gender.
Federal fair housing law also recognizes sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination. In most cases, the perpetrators are property managers, employees, or contractors, but community owners may be liable for sexual harassment perpetrated by their agents if they knew about it, but failed to do anything to stop it.
Last week, the Department of Justice announced that it has opened a civil investigation into allegations of discriminatory policing by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) members based in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, Calif. The investigation will focus on allegations that the Lancaster and Palmdale stations of the LASD are engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of race or national origin in violation of federal law, including the Fair Housing Act.
The September issue of Fair Housing Coach reviews federal laws about when—and under what circumstances—communities must allow people to bring animals onto the property.
This subject has generated a lot of confusion—and formal fair housing complaints, according to HUD. Adding to the confusion are new federal regulations related to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), another federal law protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities in various settings.
The August 2011 issue of Fair Housing Coach reviews the most common forms of additional protections available under state or local law. And, as an extra bonus, we’ve included a table to provide a state-by-state snapshot of current state fair housing laws. Here are some highlights from the August issue:
Congratulations to Carol Johnson Perkins, Esq., the editor of Fair Housing Coach! The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has awarded Fair Housing Coach the Best Newsletter in its annual journalism competition. The NAREE program recognizes excellence in reporting, writing, and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate.
Award winners were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. A record number of entries from professional journalists across the U.S. were received this year.
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