December 24, 2018
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a settlement in a New Jersey housing discrimination case. According to the HUD official site, Tamaron Association, which represents a condominium development in Waldwick, New Jersey must pay $9,000 under an Initial Decision and Consent Order.
The order addresses allegations that the association refused to sell a condo to a man with disabilities and his wife, “because the couple planned to have their adult, disabled daughter live with them” according to a HUD press release.
Fair Housing Act laws forbid denying or limiting housing to those with disabilities, and it is a violation of federal law to refuse reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities.
“No family whose members have disabilities should be denied the reasonable accommodations they need to make a home for themselves,” says Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, who was quoted in the HUD press release.
She adds, “Hopefully, today’s ruling will remind homeowner associations of their obligations under the Fair Housing Act and encourage them to follow the law.”
Tamaron Association will, under the terms of the settlement agreement, pay the previously mentioned civil penalty of $9,000; employees of the company must receive training in Fair Housing Act requirements, and make changes to the associations’ bylaws as they relate to reasonable accommodations.
2018 is the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, and in the past year the Department of Housing and Urban Development have worked to “enhance awareness of fair housing rights, highlight HUD’s fair housing enforcement efforts, and end housing discrimination in the nation”.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in any part of the housing process, rental or purchase, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. If you believe you have experienced discrimination, file a complaint with the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints can also be made online at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
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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