Housing providers pay $10,000 to settle with HUD

HUD has announced it has approved a Conciliation Agreement between Oberhauser Trust, in Escondido, and its leasing agent, First Core Group, Inc. doing business as Keller Williams Realty, in Glendale, California, settling claims that the leasing agent allegedly denied a father of two children the opportunity to rent a condominium. The case came to HUD's attention after a father of two and his father-in-law filed a complaint alleging that the father was denied the opportunity to rent a condominium because he has two young daughters who would be living with him part-time. The father alleged that the leasing agent refused to consider his application for the unit, saying, "I don't want to waste your time or mine. Sorry."

The owner and leasing company deny that they discriminated against the family but agreed to settle the complaint. Under the terms of the agreement, the owners and brokerage agency will pay $10,000 to the father and will revise their fair housing policy to contain provisions that there are no preferences against renting or selling properties to families with children. In addition, representatives of the owners and their leasing agents will attend fair housing training.