Articles Tagged With: Fair Housing Act

FHA and HUD Announce More Enhancements To COVID-19 Mortgage Relief

July 2, 2020

HUD Announces Fair Housing Grant Awards

A person or family looking for a home to buy with an FHA mortgage doesn’t go into the process expecting to be treated to a violation of federal law through discriminatory practices that violate the Fair Housing Act. But many people do encounter such discrimination; the official site of the National Low Income Housing Coalition notes that in 2017 alone 2,249 Fair Housing cases were settled, with more than 400 cases involving a guilty plea from the defendant. Fair Housing Act violations prevent those in need of housing from finding reasonable, affordable homes–discrimination in the housing process is a violation of federal law but unfortunately, there are many who still experience such discrimination whether as a future renter or homeowner. Did you know that Fair Housing laws protect you at | more...

June 29, 2020

HUD Brings Fair Housing Act Charges Against Atlanta Landlords

By Joe Wallace

Have you experienced housing discrimination at any stage in the housing process? Violations of the Fair Housing Act can occur at any stage of your journey to find a new rental home or purchase including home loans, refinance loans, home buying, etc. If you have experienced ANY kind of discrimination while looking for a house or apartment, file a complaint of discrimination with the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777. You can also file a Fair Housing Act complaint online by visiting How to File a Complaint at the HUD official site. Why? Because Fair Housing violations continue to be an issue in the United States of America, and often the only thing that prevents those who discriminated against YOU to keep violating the law | more...

HUD Extends Modified Exterior-Only Appraisals During COVID-19

May 4, 2020

Sexual Harassment As A Violation Of The Fair Housing Act

By Bruce Reichstein

The month of April is Fair Housing Month in America, and while at the time of this writing that month has just ended there are efforts made around the clock to raise awareness of Fair Housing laws. HUD has issued a press release about one of those ongoing efforts; a joint-agency fight to stop sexual harassment in the housing process. The U.S. Attorney General and the HUD Secretary have partnered to remind landlords and renters that sexual harassment at any stage of the housing process is illegal and a violation of federal Fair Housing Act regulations. “The Fair Housing Act embodies the spirit of this great Nation where everyone is entitled to equal opportunity and respect,” said the HUD Secretary, who was quoted in the press release. He adds, “No | more...

April 20, 2020

HUD Housing Discrimination Policy During COVID-19

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA and HUD celebrate Fair Housing Month during April each year, and in the year 2020, coronavirus pandemic concerns raise some Fair Housing issues to new importance. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued official policy on housing discrimination related to COVID-19. The agency issued a press release, reminding tenants, landlords, house hunters, and all others involved in the housing industry, “…viruses do not target specific racial or ethnic groups. Be aware that the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws prohibit the eviction, turning away or harassment of a person in housing because they are profiled, on the basis of race, national origin or other protected class, to be associated with COVID-19.” That is a very important issue to consider. Not everyone is able to shelter | more...

April 8, 2020

Celebrating Fair Housing Month

By Bruce Reichstein

The month of April is Fair Housing Month, and even during COVID-19 woes and coronavirus outbreak containment efforts continue, the FHA and HUD are working to raise awareness of Fair Housing Act laws, your rights, and responsibilities. Sexual Harassment As A Violation Of Fair Housing Laws Fair Housing month is a campaign to raise awareness of the Fair Housing Act. The 2020 theme of the outreach is “Call HUD: Because Sexual Harassment in Housing is Illegal.” Where sexual harassment goes, HUD policy is very specific. “While any form of discrimination stains the very fabric of our nation, HUD is especially focused on protecting the right of individuals to feel safe and secure in their homes, free from sexual harassment or unwanted sexual advances,” according to a HUD press release on | more...

FHA and HUD Announce Even More Home Loan Relief Options For Qualifying Home Owners

March 5, 2020

HUD Announces Settlement In California Fair Housing Sexual Harassment Case

By Joe Wallace

Some renters and house hunters are not aware that sexual harassment from someone at any stage of the housing process can be considered a violation of federal law. Did you know that the Fair Housing Act forbids landlords and others involved in the housing industry from sexually harassing those in search of housing (bought or rented)? A recent settlement announced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development highlights this issue. According to HUD, the agency recently approved a conciliation agreement, “requiring Ronoel Romero, Blanca Romero, and Mario Prudencio, the owners and manager of a Bakersfield, California, apartment complex, to pay $14,500 to several female residents”. The required payment is part of the settlement. Fair Housing Act laws forbid housing providers from sexually harassing tenants. The prohibition includes “creating a | more...

HUD Begins Foreclosure Relief For FHA Borrowers Affected By The Coronavirus Outbreak

March 2, 2020

HUD Announces Settlement In California Fair Housing Discrimination Case

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a conciliation agreement in a California Fair Housing complaint alleging housing discrimination against those with children. Oberhauser Trust and its leasing agent, First Core Group, Inc. (doing business as Keller Williams Realty, in Glendale, California) were named in a complaint alleging denial of housing for a father of two; according to the HUD official site, this case was brought to the agency’s attention after the father was denied housing. According to a HUD press release, “…a father of two and his father-in-law filed a complaint alleging that the father was denied the opportunity to rent a condominium because he has two young daughters who would be living with him part-time.” The complaint alleges that an application to rent a condo | more...

January 29, 2020

HUD Announces New Policy On Service Animals

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced updated guidance regarding the use of service animals and emotional support animals as it relates to Fair Housing Act issues. The issue of support animals might not seem to be related to the purchase of real estate with an FHA home loan, not at first. But Fair Housing rules do affect all stages of the house-hunting process including renting a home while you are looking for one to purchase with the help of a realtor, or on your own. The HUD announcement discusses a need for reasonable accommodation in housing for those who need service animals or emotional support animals. The agency has released an “Assistance Animal Notice” designed to help all parties understand how to best comply with Fair Housing | more...

November 19, 2019

HUD Announces Fair Housing Act Violation Settlement With Oglethorpe Square Apartments, GA and Gene B. Glick Company, Inc.

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a housing discrimination case involving Oglethorpe Square Apartments of Savannah, Georgia, and Gene B. Glick Company, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana. Housing discrimination creates unfair conditions for those who need to rent or buy a home and thanks to the Fair Housing Act there is recourse for those who experience discrimination at any stage of the housing process (see below for information on how to report housing discrimination). Many times, the only people who have the power to stop further violations of federal law are the victims of the discrimination; without reporting the illegal activity, it can go on uncontested for a long time. It’s hard to believe that in the 21st century we must still read about the | more...

HUD Announces New Mortgage Relief Options For FHA Borrowers Affected By COVID-19

November 6, 2019

HUD Announces Million Dollar Settlement With Bridgeport Housing Authority Over Disability Discrimination Claims

By Bruce Reichstein

No matter what stage you are at in the house-hunting process, discrimination has a chilling effect on your efforts to find a home. It does not matter if you are renting or buying, discrimination corrupts every stage of the housing process. That is one reason we report on Fair Housing cases here; borrowers sometimes don’t fully understand their rights or the fact that in order to prevent future discrimination tomorrow, the victims of today’s Fair Housing Act violations have to report the illegal activity to call it to the attention of HUD. This is vital in any case; in today’s action, HUD did not get the initial complaint from an outside source (which seems rare for this type of Fair Housing Act issue) but rather from a HUD compliance review | more...