HUD Enters into Agreement with Maryland Condominium Company and Management Agent to Resolve Claims of Disability Discrimination

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has entered into a Consent Order with a Baltimore, Maryland condominium company, Scarlett Place Residential Condominium, Inc., and its management agent, Brodie Management, Inc., to resolve a Charge of Discrimination alleging disability discrimination. Read the Consent Order here.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, familial status, and disability. It requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations when necessary for persons with disabilities.

"It is unconscionable that families caring for children with disabilities could also face housing discrimination," said Demetria L. McCain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "This consent order demonstrates HUD's commitment to protecting the fair housing rights of families and persons with disabilities."

HUD's Charge of Discrimination alleged that Scarlett Place Residential Condominium and Brodie Management violated the Fair Housing Act because of disability when they refused to waive their rule limiting occupants to two persons per bedroom to allow a family of eight - one of which was a young child having bone marrow transplant treatment at nearby Johns Hopkins Hospital - to temporarily rent a three-bedroom condominium. The family needed to live together to facilitate the young child's medical treatment and care, which included the screening of all family members for a viable bone marrow donor. The condominium's board of directors levied a monthly fine against the unit's owner because of the family's occupancy of the condominium.

The Consent Order, entered into by HUD's Chief Administrative Law Judge, requires Scarlett Place Residential Condominium and Brodie Management to pay the family and the condominium owner a total of $35,743.50 in damages, and to take other actions to ensure nondiscrimination because of disability. The Consent Order does not constitute an admission of liability by either Scarlett Place Residential Condominium or Brodie Management.

"Housing providers must allow families to provide care for their children with disabilities when a simple waiver of condominium rules can be made," said Damon Smith, HUD's General Counsel. "HUD will vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act's protections for persons with disabilities."

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) 877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing.

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