Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) charged a rental property owner in New Jersey with racial discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA). In the charging document, HUD asserts that the property owner declined to rent an apartment to an African American woman because of her race. HUD also alleges the owner used racial slurs in various text messages when informing the prospective renter that she was not chosen for the apartment.

Factually, the charge is that the property owner listed an apartment for rent via an online site. Responding to the ad the same day it was posted, the applicant noted she and her son were anxious to move because the unit they were currently living in did not have heat. She reached out via telephone and left a message which was not returned.  Next, the applicant sent a text message to the number in the ad. In response, the property owner allegedly used a series of racial slurs when declining to show the unit to the prospect. Those slurs, of course, were captured on the applicant’s phone and turned over to HUD during the investigation. Following its inquiry, HUD found probable cause to believe the discrimination took place and issued the charge alleging a violation of the FHA.

Obviously, declining to rent a home to a prospect based on race has been against the law for more than 50 years now. Additionally, might I suggest it makes even less sense to send text messages explaining the racial animus behind the decision. Even if the property owner may subsequently contend he was joking and/or not being serious (and I am not involved with this case), using repeated racial slurs with a prospect while declining an application for an apartment is a recipe for disaster in the fair housing arena.

Just A Thought.

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