Attorney General Martha Coakley Obtains Consent Judgment Against Springfield Landlord Accused of Housing Discrimination

SPRINGFIELD, MA – September 16, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office obtained a consent judgment against a Springfield landlord accused of unlawfully discriminating against prospective tenants because they sought to use public assistance housing vouchers to rent the units.  The judgment, entered by Judge Dina Fein of the Western Division Housing Court, permanently prohibits the landlord Leon Hutt, of East Longmeadow, from discriminating against any person who inquires about or applies for rental housing, or becomes a tenant in one of his properties because that person receives public rental assistance. Under the terms of today’s settlement, Hutt must pay a total of $12,750 to two prospective tenants and the Housing Discrimination Project of Holyoke. “Given the stark realities of today’s economy, our office will continue to vigorously pursue landlords who discriminate against families receiving public assistance,” said Attorney General Coakley. “The Commonwealth’s fair housing laws are meant to ensure that people who receive rental subsidies have the same access to rental properties as everyone else.  Landlords are in violation of those laws if they refuse to rent to a prospective tenant simply because that person receives public assistance.”

This consent judgment resolves two complaints filed in April 2006, alleging that the defendant unlawfully refused to rent a three-bedroom apartment in the Forest Park area of Springfield, Massachusetts, on separate occasions to two prospective tenants, both single mothers who received federal housing subsidy vouchers, also known as Section 8 vouchers. Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal for a property owner to discriminate against a prospective tenant because that person holds a Section 8 voucher or because of any requirement of the public assistance or housing subsidy program.

Under the terms of the consent judgment, Hutt is required to:

• Attend a fair housing training, approved in advance by the Attorney General’s Office, on  state and federal fair housing and antidiscrimination laws;
• For a period of two years, include in all print advertisement for his rental property the words “Equal Housing Opportunity” or the Fair Housing Logo; and
• For a period of 18 months, maintain a record of all inquiries regarding his rental properties and all rental applications accepted and rejected for tenancy and report the list to the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, the non-profit housing advocacy group in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Zoe Stark and Laurie Frankl of Attorney General Coakley’s Civil Rights Division.

Contact:
Emily LaGrassa
(617) 727-2543