HUD APPROVES SETTLEMENT INVOLVING LAS VEGAS MANAGEMENT COMPANY ACCUSED OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it has approved a Conciliation Agreement between Meadow Ridge LV, LLC, and ConAm Management Corp., the owner and manager of Meadow Ridge Apartments in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a resident, settling claims that the owner and manager discriminated against families with children by allegedly denying unsupervised children's access to the property's common areas. Read the Agreement.

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to refuse to rent or to impose different rental terms on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or familial status.

"Individuals renting units at apartment complexes have a right to use any amenities that are available, and this applies to families who have children," said Anna María Farías, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "We're pleased that the owners and managers of Meadow Ridge agreed to resolve this matter and we will continue working with other housing providers to help them meet their obligations under the Fair Housing Act."

The case came to HUD's attention when a mother residing at Meadow Ridge Apartments filed a complaint alleging that the property manager made her son and other children leave a recreational area of the complex after observing the children playing without their parents observing. The woman's complaint further alleged that the owner and manager maintained an unwritten policy that children could not use common spaces without adult supervision. The owner and manager deny that they discriminated against the woman but agreed to settle the complaint.

Under the terms of the agreement, the owner and manager will pay $5,000 to the mother and allow her, if she chooses, to terminate her lease after a 30-day written notice without penalty. Additionally, the owner and manager will provide fair housing training for its employees and circulate a letter to residents stating that children do not need to be supervised in order to use the development's common areas.

People who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fair housing, or by downloading HUD's free housing discrimination mobile application, which can be accessed through Apple and Android devices.

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