Some Fair Housing Council Success Stories

Emotional Support Animal

In early 2024 the Council received a phone call from a client seeking help with a reasonable accommodation for their Emotional Support Assistance Animal. While the Client’s apartment complex allowed dogs, there was a weight restriction of 25 lbs. The Client had requested a reasonable accommodation to be allowed to keep their Assistance Animal, a German Shepard that weighed more than 25 lbs in their apartment. However, the Client’s request was denied. A staff member from the Council reached out to the property manger on behalf of the client. The property manager was new and not familiar with the Fair Housing laws. After discussing the issue with the Fair Housing Council’s enforcement staff and reviewing the guidance documents provided to them by the Council, the property manager reconsidered and granted the Client’s accommodation request.

Fair Housing Rights

In late 2023, the Council assisted a heart transplant patient seeking help with excessive noise at his apartment complex that was interfering with his ability to rest and recover from surgery.  After speaking with a member of the Council’s enforcement staff and learning more about his Fair Housing rights, the client obtained a note from his doctor and submitted an accommodation request to the landlord to be allowed to move to a quieter and more suitable unit. A Council staff member also called the landlord to let them know the client would be asking for an accommodation.  A few days later the client called back to say that the management was aware of the issue and was now working to grant his request.  In addition, he thanked the Council for intervening because the excessive noise had stopped and he was finally able to get some much needed rest.  

Fair Housing Disability Complaint

During the summer of 2023, the Council received a phone call from a client suffering from respiratory issues and long COVID.  The Client had recently moved to a new apartment complex and was told that there was a mandatory fee for the fitness center.  The client asked her new landlord if they could waive the fee because she was not physically able to use the gym due to her disability.  The landlord refused.  The Council reached out to the landlord and explained that the client was asking for a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and would be submitting a letter and a note from their doctor.  The landlord agreed to waive the fee once they received the client’s written request.

Fair Housing Sexual Harassment Complaint

During the spring of 2023, the Council assisted a client who was being harassed by the super at his apartment complex.  The Client stated that the Super would call him names and subject him to harassing behavior because of the client’s sexual orientation.  A member of the Council’s enforcement staff contacted the property manager at the apartment complex.  The property manager confirmed that the client had told him about the harassment and said that he would speak to the super in order to resolve the matter.  Approximately, one week later the client called back to thank the Council and report that the harassment had stopped.

Call us at (201) 489-3552. You may not know all your Fair Housing rights.

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