Landlord pays $37,000 to settle harassment claims

HUD has approved an agreement between a Minneapolis property owner and a female tenant who alleged the landlord solicited sex from her in exchange for a reduction in her rent. The case came to HUD’s attention when a woman filed a complaint with HUD alleging that her landlord, David Sheets, sexually harassed her while she was living in one of his apartments. Specifically, the woman alleged that on numerous occasions during her tenancy, the landlord requested sex from her in exchange for a reduction in her rent. Under the terms of the agreement, the landlord, who denied the allegations, will pay $30,000 to the woman and $7,000 to her attorney. The agreement also requires that the landlord contract with a licensed, independent third-party real estate management company to manage all of his residential properties for the next five years.