Section 8 housing.

[Jim Wineinger]

I wanted to share an article with all of you but could not do it as an article due to either my misunderstanding of how to post an article or maybe the restrictions of the extranet usage here at work. So I will share it here in the open forum where it will probably be seen by even more people.

Government wants to force all landlords to accept section 8 vouchers and or certificates. What I have found is a very, verry, verrry recent case that you might want to watch as it unfolds.

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/melrose/2009/10/ag_coakley_cracks_down_on_melr.html

In this case the landlord told the section 8 client that she/he did not want to deal with the Section 8 program and the governments response was

"We are facing critical housing needs in the Commonwealth and the strain on those needing rental or transitional housing assistance is particularly great,'' said Coakley. "Realtors, brokers, and landlords in Massachusetts should understand that discrimination against those who hold housing assistance subsidies is illegal and we will seek to hold accountable those who break the law.''

Does this case from October 15, 2009 shed some light on the wishes of some governmental officials in what they want to be law?

[Ralph S.]

Wow. The conspiracy theorists are working overtime in this thread.

Whazis? It doesn't even make sense. See:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FHLaws/yourrights.cfm
HUD (FHEO) only responds to complaints, they're not out there trolling, trying to entrap LLs/Pms. Their methods of responding to a complaint are clearly spelled out and entrapment isn't one of them.

I don't think so. I read the article, too. If a state adds a new class in addition to the federal classes, it does not force anyone to do anything. It only prohibits you from descriminating for that particular reason. And if any state adds a class to it's particular law, it doesn't automatically bleed over to all states.

Some number of years ago, the feds were reading real estate advertisements and taking action when the ads suggested preference for various things, like "great for the young family just starting out" was deemed to discriminate against age. So you change your ad to read "great for the first time homebuyer!"

See my first post in this thread. Know the law, abide by it, and watch your P's and Q's when talking to prosepective tenants. :roll: