Category: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD to Investigate Housing Discrimination Based on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

On February 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) published a memorandum that directed its Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (“FHEO”) to begin accepting and investigating Fair Housing Act claims that include allegations of discrimination because of an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. The lead up to this moment has experienced fits and […]

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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In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its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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WXYZ Detroit interviews Kevin Hirzel on emotional support animals and Senate Bill 663

WXYZ Detroit (Channel 7) recently interviewed Kevin Hirzel regarding the increase in requests for emotional support animals and how Senate Bill 663 would help to curb requests for fake emotional support animals.   The interview discusses how requests for emotional support animals can be made under the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, as emotional support animals are […]

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