HUD Announces Agreement with California Real Estate and Property Management Company

HUD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it has entered into a Conciliation Agreement with California property owners Joel and Christie A. Crowley, a property management company, Distinctive Properties Real Estate and Property Management, and property manager William Ware, resolving allegations that they discriminated against an interracial married couple on the basis of race and disability. A former employee of the Respondents allegedly made discriminatory statements and refused to provide an accessible parking space for the husband. Read the Conciliation Agreement here.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing providers from discriminating because of race and disability. This includes making discriminatory statements and refusing to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

"Families deserve the right to enjoy their homes, free from discrimination," said Demetria L. McCain, HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD remains committed to ensuring that all housing providers meet their fair housing obligations."

The case came to HUD's attention when a couple filed a complaint alleging that the housing providers discriminated against them because of race and disability. The complaint asserted that the property manager made discriminatory comments and that other tenants subjected them to racial slurs and threats. They also alleged that they were refused an accessible parking space.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the property owner has agreed to pay the couple $25,000, and Respondents have agreed to process any and all future requests made by or on behalf of applicants and/or residents for reasonable accommodation in a timely manner and provide fair housing training for their staff. Property owners Joel and Christie A. Crowley, property management company Distinctive Properties Real Estate and Property Management, and property manager William Ware deny any violation of the law, and their entering into the Conciliation Agreement does not constitute an admission by them or evidence of a determination by the Department of any violation of the Act or any other law.

Individuals who believe they have experienced discrimination in housing may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Federal Relay Service).