I was in the process of updating the online fair housing continuing education courses offered by my school (www.123ConEd.com), when I came across this recent Michigan Fair Housing Act case. Because Fair Housing is such an important topic, I thought that I'd post a summary of this recent case.
In late November 2008, the United States Department of Justice settled a fair housing lawsuit for $170,000 against the owners and managers of Regent Court Apartments in Roseville, Michigan. The lawsuit alleged that the owners and managers had discriminated against African-Americans who were seeking to rent apartments at the complex. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Regent Court Apartments, LLC, and Donna Harrison, the leasing manager, engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African-American applicants for tenancy.
The Justice Department's lawsuit was based upon evidence developed by Operation Home Sweet Home, a concentrated initiative to expose and eliminate housing discrimination in America. Operation Home Sweet Home utilized the Department of Justice's fair housing testing program where individuals pose as renters for purposes of gathering information about possible discriminatory practices. The Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit, a private fair housing organization, assisted with the testing pursuant to a contract with the Justice Department.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants were required to pay $75,000 in damages to three victims who were discriminated against because of their race at Regent Court Apartments; pay $55,000 in a civil penalty to the United States; and pay $40,000 into a settlement fund that will be distributed to any additional victims of discrimination at Regent Court Apartments who are identified following entry settlement. The settlement also required the defendants to undergo fair housing training, self-testing, and reporting requirements for the three year term of the decree.
It is important for all real estate professionals to remember that the Fair Housing Act ensures that all individuals have equal access to housing. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. Fair housing issues are important and real estate professionals need to be familiar with the law and what they can/cannot do.
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To learn more about Fair Housing issues in Michigan (and many other topics affecting Michigan real estate professionals), please visit us at www.123ConEd.com. 123 ConEd LLC (www.123ConEd.com) is a leading online provider of continuing education courses to real estate professionals in Michigan. Our online Michigan real estate con ed courses are fully approved and properly certified by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. All of our courses are designed to offer our students the most information, as quickly and economically as possible.
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