New Harassment Rules Added to Fair Housing Act

HUD recently issued its final rules regarding quid pro quo (“this for that”) harassment and hostile environment harassment under the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and familial status. Although community associations do not typically consider themselves to be “housing providers,” the Fair Housing Act applies to associations and plays a role in how the community relates to its residents.  The new rules define quid pro quo harassment and hostile environment harassment as prohibited discriminatory housing practices. Although both types of harassment might arise in a community association, conduct amounting to hostile environment harassment seems more likely. Hostile environment harassment is defined as “…unwelcome conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to interfere with: the availability, sale, rental, or use or enjoyment of a dwelling; the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale or rental, or the provision or enjoyment of services or facilities in connection therewith; …”     Read the article……………