Received a letter from Fair Housing Division regarding a complaint that was lodged by a former tenant who alleged a discrimination.

There are some simple questions but I was appalled that they have asked me to respond within 72 hours about allegations of events a year ago.

Why only 72 hours to respond for a year old case? Do I not have a right to consult legal counsel or attorney and would need more time to respond?

Secondly, they asked me whether I have taken a Fair Housing Training.

Did you guys take a training on Fair Housing before you became a Landlord? Is that mandatory?

Take whatever amount of time necessary to adequately respond.

Alex,

Keep these people happy.

They NEVER go away

They think differently than you.

They have an agenda to protect the complainer.

You are guilty until you prove your innocence

to THEIR satisfaction.

The complainer has 2 years to file a complaint. THAT is why you have to keep all applications and notes for 2+ years. Wonder why he/she waited so long?

In Ohio they are funded by the fines they collect.

I HIGHLY suggest having your atty respond to the claim. One incorrect word outta your mouth can sink you and cost you THOUSAND$$$.

Jump online NOW and do a simple Fair Housing course so you can say YES.

What do they say was the discriminatory act or words?

Thank you for your answers.

I see their approach is like a bully.

I have all the facts in place and denied allegations. The burden of proof is on them. I have documented proof while the complainant does not have any.

The complainant is stating some vague verbal statement that I never uttered. It is a lie of gender discrimination and false accusation.

Vee [OH]

You stated that you have some experience. Did you have an attorney?

You would have to check your state (or even local) laws for the answer of "Is Fair Housing Training Mandatory for Landlords?"

In NYS - not YET - if you are NOT a Licensed RE Agent (assoc brk, broker, etc).

The reason I am confident to defend myself because,

1. The former tenant is lying about things that I said something while I know I have not said anything like that (as alleged). I have never spoken to tenant on that topic or treated like that. It is just a made up, "You said....".

2. I have the facts to prove my point.

3. I have not done anything wrong and I have not done any type of discrimination as alleged.

I leaned a lesson from an attorney that one should never be "forced" to respond by an artificially set deadline.

My attorney wanted to just ignore them and respond when he was good and ready. But with his blessing I did respond before the deadline and said, "I have received your communication demanding a response within "XX" number of days. Unfortunately it's going to take me longer. I will get back to you in the next 45 days".

My attorney responded by saying he wanted a copy of the complaint before he could address their request, because the term "Discrimination" can mean just about anything.

Was it they had a dog? Or maybe they had too many "occupants" not "Children"?

Alex, just because you say the ex-T is lying, it still comes down to your word against the ex-T's word. The ex-T's word is all it takes to convict you.

You can prove that the ex-T lied on something else. BFD. We all have lied, and it sometimes can be proven against us. That doesn't mean anything.

Thank you all. I get it.

Yes, I will respond within 7 days but not 72 hours. In fact, I have answer now but will review and take 2 more days to respond.

It is ex-tenant's word against me. But how can they prove? Ex-tenant says that Landlord said ....xyz. I know that I never said xyz, it is all made up and I am denying those allegations.

Alex, No No No NO!!

You are not listening to the people who have been their before you.

They do not have to prove ANYTHING!

You are walking naked into the lions den.

HIS words, even his lies, overrides EVERY document you have.

Your responses prove you are in over your head.

They LOVE LLs like you because they will make MONEY!

A couple hundred bucks for an atty vs THOUSAND$$$ in fines.

AND

your face plastered on the front page and the six o'clock news.

Thank you All.

Brad,

I think about every eighth or so person who calls from Ohio on one of my Pa places is actually testing me. When I see a 216 or 440 area code, I am on my toes.

Alex, I was once accused of discrimination and the case was referred to the human rights commission which is more serious than fair housing. To satisfy the query you need to demonstrate your character. Do you have a diverse tenant base you can show, or tenants who will write a deposition towards your fair character? Do you have a protected class like the accuser? In my case it took 3 or more months and I had to provide emails and fortunately had a VM where the accuser yelled and threatened an office worker, plus I had a trans tenant, mixed race couple, etc. who vouched for my character. Don't remember if the tenant from the other unit was involved, but do you have any tenants who interreacted with the accuser?

Thanks to ALL who responded. I listened to your valuable advice and hired an Attorney who is local and has 3 decades worth of experience dealing ONLY with Fair Housing.

The investigator is emailing me on a daily basis asking me like a pest. So I finally told the Investigator that I am taking the advise from a legal counsel and an attorney will be present when we are on call for interview.

Should I provide contact details of my attorney to the investigator?

The investigator is asking me the name and contact details of Attorney. I am having representation and will pay to attorney on an hourly basis. I have provided all the facts, the background information, the events to my attorney.

I also asked Investigator to send me the questions that will be asked during the interview. I have prepared those answers which my attorney has reviewed. Some of those questions are illegal (as per Attorney). The attorney has prepared the legitimate answers based on the information I have provided. When we get on the call, the attorney will be the one who will be doing all the talking.

I do not want Investigator to directly go to the attorney. I would like to know the questions the Investigator asks, prepare my answers, send to my attorney and provide answers that my attorney sends me. This way,

1. I know all the questions that the Investigator asks.

2. I get a chance to prepare and provide relevant information to my attorney.

3. I can control and keep track of hours the attorney spends. If I simply provide the attorney's address, the investigator may get the attorney on the call and will take lot of attorney's time. If that happens, I will end up spending thousands of dollars, just in fees.

Thank you small potatoes [NY]

I feel sorry for you; my attorney told me the same thing; the tenants use Fair Housing as a means to harass the Landlords because they have nothing to lose. They know that it is going to cost LL either way, that is, if LL fails then they get money in compensation and if LL wins, the LL ends up lot of dollars in legal fees. The bad part is, LL cannot counter sue and recover that money for false accusations.

My attorney told me that most of those are false accusations but the burden of proof is on LL to prove innocent. The LL spends lot of time, energy and money to protect.

To small potatoes [NY],

I have not done anything wrong. I did not make any discriminatory statements or treated my tenant differently. It is retaliation, as I deducted Late Fees from the deposit-refund.

I have had all kinds of tenants, all types of races, nationalities, cultures, color, genders etc. who I had rented.

The ex-tenant went back to property and tired to talk to my current tenant.

To small potatoes [NY],

I have not done anything wrong. I did not make any discriminatory statements or treated my tenant differently. It is retaliation, as I deducted Late Fees from the deposit-refund.

I have had all kinds of tenants, all types of races, nationalities, cultures, color, genders etc. who I had rented.

The ex-tenant went back to property and tired to talk to my current tenant.

To small potatoes [NY],

I have not done anything wrong. I did not make any discriminatory statements or treated my tenant differently. It is retaliation, as I deducted Late Fees from the deposit-refund.

I have had all kinds of tenants, all types of races, nationalities, cultures, color, genders etc. who I had rented.

The ex-tenant went back to property and tired to talk to my current tenant.

To small potatoes [NY],

I have not done anything wrong. I did not make any discriminatory statements or treated my tenant differently. It is retaliation, as I deducted Late Fees from the deposit-refund.

I have had all kinds of tenants, all types of races, nationalities, cultures, color, genders etc. who I had rented.

The ex-tenant went back to property and tired to talk to my current tenant.

My apologies, I did not intend to post the same message multiple times. The Submit button did not seem to work and I inadvertently hit that few times.

don [PA], I agree with what you said.

Consulted an attorney and the attorney is going to answer all the questions.