Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement between her office and a Revere, Massachusetts landlord over allegations that his rental ad in Craigslist violated state discrimination statutes. This judgment is the result of a continuing statewide investigation by the Attorney General’s Office into reports of widespread discriminatory housing advertisements on the Internet.
“As more families face tough financial times and have no choice but to rent, landlords and real estate professionals must recognize that the rental market is a regulated industry,” said Attorney General Coakley. “While we hope that this enforcement initiative will have a deterrent effect, our office will continue to monitor Craigslist.”
The Attorney General’s Office has settled 20 similar cases and filed six other complaints against landlords and real estate agents across the Commonwealth accused of violating state anti-discrimination laws on Craigslist.
In this case, the landlord used Craiglist to advertise a unit for rent in Revere, stating “no Section 8.” The Massachusetts Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits landlords and others involved in property rentals from discriminating against people who use state or federal housing subsidies to pay for all or a portion of their rent.
The settlement requires the landlord attend trainings on state and federal fair housing laws. He has also agreed to place “Equal Housing Opportunity” in any future rental property ads. And, in an effort to increase awareness of this important issue, the landlord is required to place postings on Craigslist informing other Craigslist users that the Attorney General monitors Craigslist for discriminatory advertising and that it is against Massachusetts law to state a discriminatory preference against recipients of housing assistance subsidies. He will also pay $750 to a local charity that provides legal services to poor and low-income persons in housing and a variety of areas.
A couple of weeks ago, I received a response to a Craigslist ad from a Marxx Golxxxx stating: "it is illegal in Ma. to require 1st last AND security, please correct or I'll report to A.G." Needless to say she was wrong and I blasted her a nasty email in return. However, it does show people are watching.
ReplyDeleteA few years back the Salem News made me change the wording of an ad from "walk to the train" to "close to the train". Apparently, as worded, it was in violation of the Disabilities Act. Go figure!
Glen, I agree with your observations about CL readers being more aware of postings. Although there are still posting out there apartment descriptions that say:
ReplyDeleteNo children under 6
Ideal for a single person
Not deleaded
Walking distance to downtown
the only way to know what you are doing is to join a local landlord group. Not knowing your rights and responsibilities as a landlord can cost one BIG bucks.
ReplyDeleteAnd not learning what to sometimes results with legal bills, non payment of rents, bad tenants.
Anonymous, how right you are about joining a landlord group to save you some big bucks. Can someone explain why there are still landlords out there who aren't yet members of a landlords group?
ReplyDeleteMass is top in being for the tenant. The court system has no compassion for landlords or landladies. I know and speak from experience,I did my due diligenceabout evicting yet ther allowed her to live in a house for nine months.When the judgement came back she had to pay 2 months of nine months.boh was called after eviction started and they were minor and repaired in 1 month as she gave me trouble gettingin. I own a lot in Ma. and are selling most.Tenants can cause damage and you are still responsible. Even though you have a cof.Wonder why their are so many foreclosured homes and yet the court assumesno responsibility for any of itI know there are slum lords but most are not. All we want and someone that pays their rent and does not destroy the property. Great to be a member of a landlord group, I am.
ReplyDeleteWith a lease and a written rental agreement, you absolutely can charge a first, last, and security deposit in Massachusetts. Just be sure to properly handle the last month rent interest at the end of the tenancy and make your annual contributions of interest on the security deposit to the tenant on their rental agreement renewal. Make sure the sec dep is being held in a MA charter bank interest bearing account separated from all of your own personal finances. The tenant must receive notice of the bank account within 2 weeks of you receiving it. State law does saw that no more than 3 months of rent may be collected in advance.
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