HUD recently charged a Kansas landlord with discrimination for requiring unnecessary documentation of a prospective tenant's need for an assistance animal. Learn what HUD claims the Kansas landlord did wrong and how what housing providers may (and may not) require from tenants requesting accommodations for an assistance animal.
Read MoreHUD says the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against individuals basedl upon sexual orientation or gender identity.
Read MoreThe U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia doesn’t only apply to employment relationships. The decision also clarifies that the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity.
Read MoreIt has been more than thirty years since Congress added familial status to the classes of individuals covered by the Fair Housing Act. Still, many landlords continue to adopt policies which discriminate against tenants with children.
Read MoreIt's unfortunate when young musicians are pigeonholed into instrument selection based upon gender stereotypes. Those stereotypes eventually result in gender imbalances in professional orchestras. However, it's illegal to stereotype multifamily residents based upon gender and other attributes. Now, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has held it violates the Fair Housing Act to establish an amenity use schedule based upon gender stereotypes.
Read MoreMany major cities have passed laws prohibiting smoking in public areas. Some apartment complexes have adopted smoke-free policies. But even in buildings that are not smoke-free, tenants who do not smoke may have a right under fair housing laws to a smoke-free environment.
Read MoreMy cats have “contributed” to my articles by walking across my keyboard as I work. I was less thrilled with the cats when one left a dead mouse as a present on my stairs. A recent Kennedy Center audience might have appreciated my cats’ hunting skills. In addition to music from the National Symphony Orchestra, “entertainment” was provided by a mouse in the concert hall.
Read MoreMusicians need to practice their instruments, both to learn music and to hone their craft. For those living next door, even professional musicians’ practice may not be “music to the ears.” As a result, it is not unheard of for professional musicians to find themselves in disputes with neighbors or landlords.
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