The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged Greenview Associates L.P., Palmer Asset Management, LLC, and John Martin, property managers and landlord in Manchester, New Hampshire, with violating the Fair Housing Act by retaliating, threatening, or interfering with a tenant’s fair housing rights. HUD’s Charge alleges that, following the tenant’s filing of a Fair Housing complaint with HUD, the landlord and property manager did a background check on the tenant, not their usual practice of not running background checks, and then sought eviction of the tenant based on a long-past event that the background check revealed. Read HUD’s Charge.
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, they may award damages to the individuals for their losses as a result of the discrimination, injunctive relief, other equitable relief, and payment of attorney fees. In addition, the judge may impose civil penalties to vindicate the public interest. If the federal court hears the case, the judge may also award punitive damages to the complainant.
For more information on potentially discriminatory evictions, please refer to this HUD Fact Sheet.
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
