DOJ Takes Action to Combat Familial Status Discrimination

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced recent action against landlords in two unrelated cases involving discrimination based on familial status under the Fair Housing Act:

• June 14, 2016: The court entered a consent order in United States v. Brinson (D. Nev.), requiring Nevada landlords to pay $24,000 in damages to victims and a $12,000 civil penalty to the United States. The complaint (filed July 10, 2015) alleged that the landlords ran advertisements showing a preference against renting to families with children, and that they turned away a family with children who responded to one of the ads. (You can read the consent order here.)

• June 23, 2016: In United States v. Dominic Properties, LLC (D. Minn.), a referral from HUD, the DOJ filed a complaint against Minneapolis, Minnesota, owners and managers for allegedly creating and enforcing rules that restrict children from being in the yard, hallways and other indoor and outdoor common areas of their apartment complex. (You can read the complaint here.)

For more information about familial status discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, see "It's Fair Housing Month... Do You Know Who's Protected Against Familial Status Discrimination?"

Black Friday Deal Offers Fair Housing Compliance Training for Only $4.99

If you're a landlord or property manager, it's essential to get familiar with fair housing laws to avoid discrimination complaints from tenants. Take advantage of Black Friday to get up to speed on fair housing compliance for only $4.99...

Download Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals for Kindle for just $4.99, a savings of 50% off the regular price of $9.99. Just visit the Amazon.com page by clicking here.

You don't need an actual Kindle device to enjoy a Kindle eBook. You can read Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals on your iPad, smartphone, or even your computer, thanks to free Kindle apps.

Visit www.fairhousinghelper.com to find out about what Kirkus Reviews calls a "useful, easy-to-read guide for those who want to learn more about complying with U.S. fair housing law."

Plus, when you finish the book, follow the simple instructions to receive a complimentary, personalized fair housing training certificate and a free badge to use on your Web site or marketing materials.

Click here to download Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals for Kindle today for only $4.99.

Scared of Fair Housing Violations? In the Dark About Compliance? Save 31% on Fair Housing Helper Through Halloween

If you're operating in the dark when it comes to fair housing compliance, or you're fearful that you might get accused of housing discrimination (despite your good intentions), you may want to take advantage of a limited-time offer on affordable, convenient fair housing training...

With Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals, you go at your own pace and gain more confidence with every page. Now through October 31, 2015, enjoy 31% off when purchasing Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals directly through the Fair Housing Helper eStore. Just use coupon code HTZSSK79.

Visit www.fairhousinghelper.com to learn more about what Kirkus Reviews calls a "useful, easy-to-read guide for those who want to learn more about complying with U.S. fair housing law," which was recently selected as an International Book Awards Finalist.

Landlords, property managers, and others who complete the training receive a complimentary, personalized fair housing training certificate and more!

5 New Quick Video Tips on Fair Housing Compliance

Fair Housing Helper is pleased to announce the addition of five new tips to its YouTube series, "Fair Housing Tips In Less Than a Minute."

View the complete complete video series on YouTube. Or check out any of the ten tips here:

• #1: Protected Classes
• #2: Singling Out Children
• #3: Telling Prospects About Apartments
• #4: Banning Pets
• #5: Retaliating Against Tenants
• #6: Stay on Top of Fair Housing Compliance
• #7: Don't Make Assumptions About Disabilities
• #8: Don't Favor Certain Religions
• #9: Follow Senior Housing Exemptions
• #10: Fair Housing Fears

Check this blog and follow @fairhousing on Twitter for announcements of new tips as they're added to the series.

Plus, for more information about the book "Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals" and getting your complimentary personalized certificate and badge, visit fairhousinghelper.com.

What Did HUD Just Do With the 'Affirmatively Further Fair Housing' Requirement?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) brought the Fair Housing Act (FHA) back into the spotlight on Wednesday by announcing a new rule about the long-neglected “affirmatively further fair housing” (AFFH) requirement.

Find out what you need to know about the rule, including why it's controversial, by checking out my new guest blog post, entitled "HUD Breathes New Life Into the Fair Housing Act’s ‘Affirmatively Further Fair Housing’ Requirement" on Liz Bramlet's Blog.

Act Now to Achieve Independence from Fair Housing Fears

Are you on top of fair housing compliance? Now's your chance to get up to speed on fair housing laws and manage your property with confidence...

In honor of Independence Day, download Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals for Kindle for just $4.99, a savings of more than 50% off the regular price of $9.99. Just visit the Amazon.com page by clicking here.

You don't need an actual Kindle device to enjoy a Kindle eBook. You can read Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals on your iPad, smartphone, or even your computer, thanks to free Kindle apps.

Visit www.fairhousinghelper.com to learn more about what Kirkus Reviews calls a "useful, easy-to-read guide for those who want to learn more about complying with U.S. fair housing law," which was recently selected as a Finalist in the 2014 International Book Awards.

When you finish the book, follow the simple instructions to receive a complimentary, personalized fair housing training certificate and a free badge to use on your Web site or marketing materials.

The clock is ticking, so act now before the price goes back up to $9.99! Click here to download Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals for Kindle today for only $4.99.

Fair Housing Advice for Landlords and Property Managers Following the Supreme Court’s Landmark Disparate-Impact Ruling

After the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling on disparate-impact claims under the Fair Housing Act on Thursday, I was honored to be asked to write a guest post for Liz Bramlet's Blog sharing my thoughts.

The post, entitled "Fair Housing Advice for Landlords and Property Managers Following the Supreme Court’s Landmark Disparate-Impact Ruling," was published today and you can read it here.

Ending Soon: $9.99 Fair Housing Training eBook for Only $1.99

As Fair Housing Month comes to a close, today is the last day to take advantage of Fair Housing Helper's Fair Housing Month Deal: You can still pick up the Kindle version of the award-winning compliance training book—complete with professional designation, badge, and personalized certificate—for the very low price of $1.99.

Thanks to free Kindle apps, you don't need a Kindle device and can download the book to read on your tablet, smartphone, or even a computer. The Kindle version normally retails for $9.99 (and a paperback version is available for $19.99).

Kirkus Reviews calls Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals a "useful, easy-to-read guide for those who want to learn more about complying with U.S. fair housing law," noting that the "book offers plenty of good advice in plain English" and the "quiz format makes learning the law fun and easy to digest."

To take advantage of this special limited-time offer, visit Amazon.com today.

You can start reading the book immediately after download, and then you'll be on your way to earning your designation as a FairHousingHelper.com Gold Professional (complete with badge and personalized certificate) in no time.

For more information about the book and professional designation, please visit FairHousingHelper.com.

Avoid Fair Housing Traps When Renting Apartments to Single People

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) doesn't protect tenants based on the fact they're not married, but landlords can still get into legal trouble if they treat tenants more—or less—favorably simply because they’re single.

If you're a landlord thinking about turning away prospective tenants for being single, or you're considering creating an apartment community designed for singles only, take a moment to learn about the inherent fair housing risks behind both types of practices.

Check out my recent article for Nolo.com, entitled "Avoid Fair Housing Trouble When Dealing With Single Tenants," for more information.

Caution: Ignoring Apartment Prospects Because of Their Name or Accent May Be Bad for Business—and Illegal

When landlords engage in profiling with prospective tenants at their properties, they're risking fair housing complaints based on national origin, race, or another protected class. Profiling involves making certain assumptions about prospective tenants based on characteristics they have, and then turning them away as a result.

Profiling interferes with prospective tenants in their search for housing while creating risks for landlords. To prevent problems, learn more about the types of profiling and how to avoid it by checking out my recent article for Nolo.com.

Do you know about the Fair Housing Month Sale? Read "Fair Housing Month Sale! $9.99 Fair Housing eBook Only $1.99 (Limited-Time Offer)" for more information.

Fair Housing Month Sale! $9.99 Fair Housing eBook Only $1.99 (Limited-Time Offer)

To celebrate fair housing month, Fair Housing Helper is pleased to offer, for a limited time, the Kindle version of its award-winning compliance training book—complete with professional designation, badge, and personalized certificate—for only $1.99. The Kindle version normally retails for $9.99 (and a paperback version is available for $19.99). Thanks to free Kindle apps, you don't need a Kindle device and can download the book to read on your tablet, smartphone, or even a computer.

Kirkus Reviews calls Fair Housing Helper for Apartment Professionals a "useful, easy-to-read guide for those who want to learn more about complying with U.S. fair housing law," noting that the "book offers plenty of good advice in plain English" and the "quiz format makes learning the law fun and easy to digest."

Discover the answers to these questions and more:

• What phrases should I avoid when advertising my apartments?
• Can I reject applicants who weren't born in the U.S.A.?
• Do I have enough parking spaces for people with disabilities?
• Must I let a tenant keep a cat for his disability?
• Can I require families to put children in separate bedrooms?
• Can I reject prospects with HIV or AIDS for health reasons?
• Should I worry about discriminating against illegal drug users?
• Will I get fined because all my tenants are white?
• Must I rent to families with children at my senior community?
• Will I get into trouble for turning away Section 8 prospects?
• Can I legally reject prospects who are openly gay?
• Do I need to install grab bars in my apartments' bathrooms?
• Can I decorate my common areas for the holidays?

To take advantage of this special limited-time offer, visit Amazon.com today. You can start reading the book immediately after download, and then you'll be on your way to earning your designation as a FairHousingHelper.com Gold Professional (complete with badge and personalized certificate) in no time.

For more information about the book, please visit FairHousingHelper.com.