The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged Tammy and Ramiro Estrada, the owner of a duplex in Appleton, Wisconsin, with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a tenant with a disability a reasonable accommodation to allow the tenant to live with her assistance animals.
Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodations when such accommodations are necessary to afford them equal access to their home, including the use of assistance animals. Individuals also are legally protected from coercion, intimidation, threats, or interference when they assert their fair housing rights or file a complaint with HUD.
HUD’s Charge alleges that the owners applied unlawful breed restrictions, fines, and fees to the the Complainant's accommodation request. Respondents also interfered with her attempt to obtain a service dog and threatened eviction, eventually non-renewing their lease. citing the reasonable accommodation requests in the non-renewal notice. As a result, the tenants were forced to rent more expensive housing elsewhere.
A U.S. Administrative Law Judge will hear HUD’s Charge unless any party to the Charge elects to have the case heard in federal district court. If an administrative law judge finds, after a hearing, that discrimination has occurred, the judge may award damages to the family for their losses because of the discrimination. injunctive relief, other equitable relief to deter further discrimination, payment of attorney fees, and civil penalties to vindicate the public interest. If the federal court hears the case, the judge may also award punitive damages to the family.
People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) 800-927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing. Housing providers and others can learn more about their responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications to individuals with disabilities here. Materials and assistance are available for persons with limited English proficiency. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact HUD using the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
