HUD issues guidance on Fair Housing Act and sexual harrasmentMortgagePress.comHUD, Fair Housing Act, sexual harrasment, discrimination, property owners, property managers
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued
guidance under the Fair Housing Act clarifying what constitutes
sexual harassment and the legal remedies available to victims of
sexual harassment in housing. HUD's guidance makes clear that as
long as an individual demonstrates that the harassment was
unwelcome, he or she may file a claim regardless of whether they
experienced the loss of a housing opportunity or tangible economic
loss.
HUD's guidance also explains that property owners and property
managers have a duty to prevent or stop sexual harassment committed
by employees, agents, or contractors and that they may be liable
for acts committed by such persons. For example, if an apartment
manager authorizes a maintenance worker to enter a tenant's home to
make a repair, and the maintenance worker sexually harasses the
tenant, the management company may be held vicariously liable for
the maintenance worker's actions.
"Individuals have the right to housing without being subjected
to sexual harassment," said Kim Kendrick, HUD Assistant Secretary
for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "This guidance lets
individuals know that they do not have to tolerate sexual
harassment in housing and advises landlords of the consequences of
failing to abide by the law."
The guidance is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov.
