The property manager conducted a background check on long-term tenant after a fair housing complaint.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged a New Hampshire property manager and landlord with unlawfully seeking to evict a tenant, violating the Fair Housing Act by retaliating, threatening, or interfering with a tenant’s fair housing rights.
The tenant filed a discrimination complaint with the HUD against the landlord. In response, the landlord ran a background check on the tenant, deviating from the norm of not running background checks on existing tenants, then sought to evict the tenant based on an event from several years ago that the background check revealed.
“The conduct alleged in this Charge constitutes illegal retaliation under the Fair Housing Act,” said Diane Shelley, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. “Today’s charge sends a strong message that HUD is committed to ensuring that tenants who exercise their fair housing rights are protected from retaliatory evictions.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Shelley as she seeks to ensure landlords comply with the Fair Housing Act.
- For Acting Secretary Todman as she oversees HUD and the enforcement of housing regulations.
Sources: Department of Housing and Urban Development
