Category: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

How to handle Community Association Collections in the aftermath of COVID-19

On March 10, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-4 and declared a State of Emergency in the State of Michigan related to the novel respiratory disease coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 13, President Donald Trump declared a National Emergency. On March 23, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-21 (COVID-19) which imposed a temporary stay-at-home requirement, subject to certain exceptions. Executive Order […]

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HB 4910: Michigan seeks to criminalize fake emotional support animal requests

On September 3, 2019, Representative Matt Hill introduced House Bill 4910, which would create the “Misrepresentation of Emotional Support Animals Act” and criminalize a fake request for an emotional support animal. Requests for emotional support animals continue to rapidly increase under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, MCL 37.1101 et seq. According to a […]

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Michigan Court rules that Homeowners Association did not violate Fair Housing Act in refusing fence for emotional support and service dogs

In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its deed restrictions banning fences and that a disabled owner could not erect a fence in order to keep her emotional support and service dogs in […]

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HOA violates the Fair Housing Act by denying a service animal in the clubhouse

In Sanzaro v Ardiente Homeowners Association, et. al., Docket No. 2:11-CV0-1143-RFB-CWH, 2019 WL 1049380 (D Nev, March 5, 2019), a federal court imposed a judgment of $350,000 in compensatory damages, $285,000 in punitive damages and awarded the plaintiffs attorney’s fees and costs against their homeowners association.  Based upon the facts of the case, the court determined that the homeowners association […]

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Avoiding Religious Discrimination Claims in Condominiums and HOA’s

Overview of Religious Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act The Federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), 42 U.S.C. §3601, et. seq. prohibits a condominium association or homeowners’ association from discriminating against a potential purchaser or an owner based upon religious beliefs.  42 U.S.C. §3604 provides in pertinent part: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted […]

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#communityassociationstoo: Community Associations' Liability for Sexual Harassment Under HUD's Hostile Environment Rules

In the summer of 2013, Kayla West began looking for a house to rent in Georgia. She came across a rental home owned by DJ Mortgage, LLC, and contacted Gene Andrews, DJ Mortgage, LLC’s property and leasing manager. Ms. West entered into a lease agreement for the rental property, and between August 2013 and October 2013, Ms. West alleged that […]

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