Articles in Category: Fair Housing Act

December 28, 2015

HUD Announces Settlement With Real Estate Agency Charged With Fair Housing Act Violations

Often when a violation of the Fair Housing Act occurs, it’s up to the victim to report the incident in order for the situation to be fixed. Those who fail to report such violations may not only cheat themselves out of a fair deal, but also allow such violations to continue to occur. Consider a recent settlement by HUD, which recently approved a pair of “Conciliation Agreements” with Delap Realty, LLC, of Northampton, Massachusetts, resolving allegations mentioned in an FHA/HUD press release that, “…the company and its agents violated the Fair Housing Act by discouraging families with children from renting over concerns the units might contain lead-based paint hazards.” Under the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to deny or limit housing because a family has children. It’s also not | more...

Can I buy a manufactured home with an FHA loan?

October 19, 2015

Fair Housing Laws: Support Animals And Discrimination

By Joe Wallace

On the FHA/HUD official site this week there was a press release announcing HUD charges against New York City landlords for alleged discriminatory housing practices involving tenants with support animals. According to the press release HUDNo. 15-129, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is charging the owners and landlords of a high-rise complex in New York City with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to allow a resident with disabilities to have an emotional support animal. HUDs charge alleges that Friedman Residence, LLC (formerly called the Aurora), Common Ground Management Corporation, and The Actors Fund of America refused to accept that the resident required a dog to cope with the symptoms of his disability.” The HUD press release adds that Fair Housing | more...

October 9, 2015

Know Your Rights Under The Fair Housing Act

By Joe Wallace

Recently we posted about an FHA/HUD press release announcing action against a Pennsylvania landlord who allegedly discriminated against families with children in his rental practices. The same kinds of violations of the Fair Housing Act can occur when trying to buy a home, and such cases are important as awareness-raising tools. When examining these issues, it becomes apparent that many people aren’t fully aware of their rights under the Fair Housing Act. Renters, house hunters, landlords and property owners alike are affected by this important federal law. But what ARE the rules under the Fair Housing Act? You can find a wealth of information at the FHA/HUD official site, which features a page called Fair Housing-It’s Your Right. That page includes (but is not limited to) the following information: “The | more...

October 8, 2015

HUD Charges Pennsylvania Landlord With Discrimination Against Children

By Joe Wallace

In a press release on the FHA/HUD official site, you’ll find the following statement about Fair Housing laws: “The Fair Housing Actmakes it unlawful to deny housing because a family has children under the age of 18 and to make statements that discriminate against families with children. Housing may exclude families with children only if it qualifies as housing for older persons under the Act. The Fair Housing Act permits the familynot the landlordto decide what unit is appropriate or safe for them.” This is mentioned in connection with a case brought by HUD against a Pennsylvania landlord. In a press release (HUDNo.15-123) published recently, we learn, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has charged a Pennsylvania landlord with housing discrimination for allegedly | more...

August 4, 2015

HUD Announces Multi-Million Dollar Anti-Discrimination Initiative

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development have announced a large amount of funding that has become available to fight housing discrimination. According to HUDNo. 15-097, HUD, ” …is making $39.2 million available to fight housing discrimination under HUD’s 2015 Fair Housing Initiatives Program(FHIP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). This year’s funding notice also creates six new types of grants that support fair housing capacity building, education and outreach activities, and testing in rental and sales transactions.” Fair Housing laws affect all types of housing transactions including FHA mortgages. The $39 million is being made available to “support organizations interested in the enforcement of fair housing laws and policies as well as educating the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act” | more...

July 17, 2015

HUD Charges South Dakota Property Owners With Discrimination

By Joe Wallace

A press release on the FHA/HUD official site announces discrimination charges against the owners of a housing complex in South Dakota. According to HUDNo.15-091, the owners violated the Fair Housing Act by, “initially refusing to allow a resident with disabilities to have an emotional support animal. HUDs charge alleges that even after the resident obtained a support dog, the owners, Robert Christensen, Linda Christensen, and Viking Villas, LLC, placed overly burdensome requirements on the residents use of the dog.” At first glance this case may seem to have nothing to do with FHA home loans, FHA refinance loans or related issues. But for borrowers who want to purchase condo units with FHA loans, or for those who purchase a home in a community with a homeowner’s association, issues like these | more...

July 10, 2015

HUD Announces Final Rule On Fair Housing

By Joe Wallace

The FHA/HUD official site has announced a final rule that will promote and clarify fair housing requirements. A press release titled, “HUD Announces Final Rule On Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” announces both new procedures and simplified fair housing rules. According to the press release, the new final rule will “equip communities that receive HUD funding with data and tools to help them meet long-standing fair housing obligations in their use of HUD funds. HUD will also provide additional guidance and technical assistance to facilitate local decision-making on fair housing priorities and goals for affordable housing and community development.” For many decades, the communities that receive funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development are required to observe fair housing rules so that all eligible applicants can receive help getting | more...

June 29, 2015

FHA & HUD On The Recent Supreme Court Fair Housing Decision

By Joe Wallace

There has rightfully been a great deal of attention on last Friday’s ruling by the Supreme Court on marriage equality. But last week’s Supreme Court actions also included other important decisions, one of which affects those seeking a place to live and the right to do so under the Fair Housing Act. On Thursday, June 25 2015, the FHA and HUD official site was updated to include a press statement from HUD about the court’s decision in a Texas housing discrimination case: “Today, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed an important legal principle in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. The Justices found that the Fair Housing Act not only prohibits intentional acts of discrimination, but also housing practices that have an unjustified discriminatory | more...

June 18, 2015

FHA Loans For LGBT Borrowers: Equal Access Guaranteed

By Joe Wallace

During the month of June, the FHA/HUD official site has posted several things about Fair Housing rules that pertain to members of the LGBT community. Did you know that FHA and HUD rules require equal access for all financially qualified applicants and that you cannot be discriminated against in the housing process for non-financial reasons, including identifying as LGBT? And that’s not limited to FHA loans or refinance loans. According to the HUDdle blog at HUD.gov,” In 2010, HUD formally adopted the principle that gender identity discrimination is sex discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. This means that when HUD receives a fair housing complaint that alleges discrimination because someone does not conform to gender stereotypes, HUD now begins a formal investigation under the Fair Housing Act.” Since issuing this | more...

June 12, 2015

HUD Secretary Castro on LGBT Month

By Joe Wallace

On the FHA/HUD official site, there’s a blog post by HUD Secretary Julian Castro, which announces that June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Month, described by Castro as, “a time to recognize the lasting contributions that these Americans have made to our nation, and to honor the progress thats been achieved in securing equal opportunity for all.” He adds, “Right now, were in the midst of a period of transformative change. In recent years, barriers that once blocked too many of our fellow Americans from living and loving freely have come tumbling down. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, helping ensure that all couples are treated fairly under the law. Same-sex couples are now able to get married in 37 states. And earlier | more...