The Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private housing, housing that receives Federal financial assistance, and State and local government housing. It is unlawful to discriminate in any aspect of selling or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to a buyer or renter because of the disability of that individual, an individual associated with the buyer or renter, or an individual who intends to live in the residence. Other covered activities include, for example, financing, zoning practices, new construction design, and advertising.
A local graduate student, Katelyn Sack, has apparently been lied to about availability of a rental apartment because her mother’s disability. Here is a shortened account of the story, taken from Katelyn’s blog:
When she went on to ask me why I wanted to know about stairs in the property, I wasn’t alarmed. It’s a reasonable question. My mother is disabled, I responded.
“Is she handicapped?” the landlord wanted to know. It is illegal for landlords to ask this, but they do anyway.
Yes, I responded.
“What’s wrong with her?” It is also illegal for them to ask this, but I don’t mind. . . . Lupus, my mom’s autoimmune disorder, is one of them.
“Lupus! Is that that nerve ending thing?”
She was probably thinking of MS. Fair enough. We’re all in the same boat, us autoimmune people, us sick people, us looking-for-housing-in-a-college-town-with-inflated-prices-and-stairs-everywhere people. It was an opportunity to educate somebody about a surprisingly common, chronic, costly, and crippling health problem few people know much about.
But Ginny never did reschedule.
Katelyn posted a video of a phone conversation with the landlord in which the landlord claims she’s waiting for another renter to make a decision. A later email explains that the apartment is still available. The video is after the break…
[via cvillenews]
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ms. mcfadden was my landlord when i was in college. sadly, this story doesn’t surprise me one bit. it would make me very, very happy to see someone put the screws to her.
Seriously? This lady really needs to be given what for! I mean, just being ignorant is bad enough, but this just takes, bakes, eats and vomits up the cake.
I have a disabled landlord and he is the shit. Thank gawd. Some of the landlords around here are awful.
Well, if I have learned anything from watching House, its NEVER lupus, so maybe its something else…
@4: Sarcoidosis? They always guess sarcoidosis.
piedmont housing authority might be of assistance here. they helped a friend of mine in a tight spot last year – possible racial discrimination setup. PHA has an attorney and can send nice, official legal correspondence.
@5 sarcoidosis – bernie mac had this, yes? i think also an autoimmune disorder …
sarcoidosis – bernie mac had this, yes?
Yes. His sister was a sarcoido.
I’ll just leave this here.
Thank you.
@8 Oh snap! You could cook an omlet with all that face egg.
ditto to 9 and 11!
headline: Mason City man charged in housing rights case
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-housingrights,0,2410103.story
“If convicted, Hanson could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.”
maybe the violence in the above case is the reason for potential jail time? or is this possible in all housing violation cases?
I wonder if anyone at the UVA Children’s Hospital Committee might appreciate a link to this? Or perhaps someone higher up at UVA? Or perhaps the Commonwealth Attorney’s office? The Hook/C-ville/DP?
@13 racially intimidating someone like that is a jailable offense? I’ve been a victim of something like that, but I wouldn’t have wanted that person to go to jail for it. I didn’t even call the cops.
What are the laws for recording a conversation in Virginia? Is it one party or two needs to know about it? You may wanna check on that.
With that said, the landlord should be held responsible for breaking the law. In my internet lawyer opinion.
@15 i’m not sure of the particulars in the case – but it appears the man is being charged under federal law, b/c the US Attorney brought the charges. he did fire a BB gun at the family and put a racially offensive sign in their yard. i thought perhaps the firing of the BB gun may have qualified it for jail time. but the few reports i found of it only state the man is being charged “with one count of interfering with the housing rights of an African American family.” seems broad and no mention of violence. i didn’t know that type of charge “interfering with housing rights” carried jail time.
Actually you can record any conversation your are involved in Virginia. If I call you, either of us can record the conversation without informing the other party. This does get sticky when your making a call outside of Virginia. That might be a different
@15 Being called a ginger doesn’t count Ethan
Does anyone know since it seems it illegal to ask about being handicap is OK to lie.
If you ask me a question that is illegal to ask and I lie what can one do when the truth is revealed?
@20 nothing. you shouldn’t have asked it. there’s no law against lying.
@19 does being white?
HA HA HA. Idiot.