January 30, 2013
Those viewing FHA.gov will find a recent press release by HUD announcing a settlement in a New Hampshire housing discrimination case that many families looking for homes should definitely read. According to the press release HUDNo.13-009, Scott Walker and his company Premiere Real Estate, LLC, in Concord, New Hampshire, have agreed to pay $9,000, “to settle allegations that they refused to rent to families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act.”
The press release adds, “The days of ‘no children allowed’ are long over,” according to John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “For 25 years, the federal Fair Housing Act has guaranteed families with children the same rights to housing as those without children, and HUD will continue to take swift enforcement action against individuals and housing providers who violate those rights.”
The press release reminds, “The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on familial status, including denying housing to families because they have children under the age of 18.”
What happened in this particular case? “HUD issued a charge of discrimination after a single mother with a 14-year-old child filed a complaint alleging that Walker and Premiere Real Estate refused her request to rent a two-bedroom apartment. The apartment is on the second floor of a two-unit building. Walker uses the first floor unit as his office. HUD’s charge asserted that when the woman inquired about the unit, Walker informed her that families with children didn’t work out in the past because his business is below the rental unit. Walker and Premiere Real Estate allegedly screened applicants and showed available apartments only to persons who did not have children.”
This particular instance involved a rental unit–what relevance does it have for those seeking an FHA mortgage?
Some borrowers experience similar discrimination when seeking home loans; a buyer who refuses to sell, a lender who requires additional evidence of income or other application data that other borrowers aren’t required to furnish, any number of violations of the Fair Housing Act which, as stated above, prevents discrimination based on family status. That includes being married with or without children, being unmarried with or without children, etc.
FHA loan applicants, when they experience such discrimination, have a great amount of power to stop it and set an example for others to follow. But the key is to report the discrimination when it occurs rather than letting it go. You can file a Housing Discrimination Complaint Form or contact the FHA directly for advice and assistance by calling 1-800-CALL FHA.
Do you have questions about FHA home loans or FHA refinance loans? Ask us in the comments section.
Joe Wallace has been specializing in military and personal finance topics since 1995. His work has appeared on Air Force Television News, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and a variety of print and online publications. He is a 13-year Air Force veteran and a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association. He was Managing editor for www.valoans.com for (8) years and is currently the Associate Editor for FHANewsblog.com.
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