February 10, 2022
Fair housing laws are sadly necessary, even in the 21st century. While some may labor under the misguided notion that American society has evolved away from the need for the Fair Housing Act, the Department of Housing and Urban Development continue to investigate Fair Housing Act violations.
One of the most recent? HUD announced in February 2022 that a conciliation agreement had been reached the agency and Las Vegas landlords accused of housing discrimination against people with disabilities.
According to a HUD press release, the agreement was reached between “Las Vegas landlord, Anwar Malik, and Malik’s property manager, Ahmad Sharif-Yazdi, to resolve allegations of discrimination brought by a prospective tenant with a disability”.
The alleged discrimination in this case was a refusal to rent property based on the applicant having or needing an assistance animal. This is not permitted under federal Fair Housing Act laws, which forbid discriminating against people with disabilitiies or refusing to grant reasonable accommodations to them.
HUD states that it is not lawful for landlords to “prohibit people with disabilities from having assistance animals that perform work or tasks or that provide disability-related emotional support”. According to the press release.
This issue was brought to HUD after a “prospective tenant filed a fair housing complaint alleging that she was denied the opportunity to rent a house because she had a dog who served as her assistance animal”. According to the complaint, a lease was signed, but once owner and manager discovered the renter had an assistance animal, they allegedly “refused to rent the house” because of the animal.
“Not only is it cruel to deny a person with disabilities access to housing because they have a service animal, but it is also against the law,” according to Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, who is quoted in the press release.
Cain adds, “This settlement demonstrates HUD’s commitment to protecting the housing rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring they have the support they need to live in the housing of their choice.”
HUD has announced that under the agreement, the property owner is to pay $6,500 to the prospective tenant. Fair housing training has been required for the owner and property manager.
Do you believe you have experienced discrimination at any stage of the housing process? File a complaint with the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Relay).
Bruce Reichstein has spent over three decades as an experienced FHA and VA home loan mortgage banker and underwriter where he was responsible for funding “Billions” in government backed mortgage loans. He is the Managing Editor for FHANewsblog.com where he educates homeowners on the specific guidelines for obtaining FHA guaranteed home loans.
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