Landlords Can’t Reject Domestic Violence Victim
HUD said these actions violated The Fair Housing Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status.
“No woman should be denied housing based on her status as a domestic violence survivor,” said Gustavo Velasquez, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD remains committed to ensuring and promoting fair housing opportunities for women and men alike.”
The settlement agreement resolves two complaints filed by a woman with HUD in December 2013. In the first complaint, the woman alleged that her current landlord refused to renew her lease because of police visits responding to her domestic violence-related 911 calls. The second complaint arose when the woman was searching for another home after her lease was not renewed, alleging that the second landlord refused to rent an apartment to her based on the previous domestic violence-related police visits.
Under the terms of the settlement, the woman will receive $13,550. The landlords have agreed to participate in fair housing training and undergo monitoring by HUD, and revise their policies and leases for all HUD-subsidized properties to comply with the Violence Against Women Act and HUD’s regulations providing protection for victims of domestic violence in public and federally-funded housing.
American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services for all your property management needs. Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.
Accessibility