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Tristan’s Landlord-Tenant Law Blog

Archive of: Fair Housing / Discrimination

Fair Housing Update: Review of 2010 Fair Housing Trends Report

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Fair Housing / Discrimination / Comments

A large segment of my work involves advising landlords and property managers about fair housing laws and counseling them what they can and cannot do in the rental industry with regard to the federal and state fair housing laws and discrimination in general.  As such, I recently took the time to read the National Fair Housing Alliance's (NFHA) 2010 Fair Housing Trends Report which was published May 26, 2010.  To provide you ...

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Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 Rent Assistance) Are Not A "Lawful Source of Income" In Wisconsin

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Fair Housing / Discrimination, Protected Classes, Screening Tenants / Comments

I am often asked whether or not a landlord is able to legally decline to rent to a tenant that is receiving "rent assistance."   I believe that the primary reason that landlords are unsure of the answer to this question  is because Wisconsin's Open Housing Act (Sec. 106.50, Wis. Stats.) prohibits a landlord from discriminating against a tenant or a prospective tennat based on their "lawful source of income."  For more information on Wisconsin's protected ...

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FAIR HOUSING - PART 2: Interesting Statistics from HUD's 2008 Annual Report

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Fair Housing / Discrimination, Protected Classes / Comments

I was recently reviewing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report on Fair Housing.  Not exactly beach reading but then the weather here in Milwaukee isn’t exactly conducive to going to the beach.HUD and its various Fair Housing Assistance Programs (FHAP) agencies handle all complaints regarding discrimination related to the federal protected classes.  To see a list if the 7 federal protected classes ...

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FAIR HOUSING - PART 1: What Are The Protected Classes?

Posted by Tristan R. Pettit, Esq. in Fair Housing / Discrimination, Protected Classes, Screening Tenants / Comments

A large part of my law practice is meeting with and consulting with landlords and management companies with regard to how to avoid trouble. This would include assisting them with the drafting of rental documents and guiding them on the proper notice to use when terminating a tenancy. It also includes consulting with clients with regard to fair housing / discrimination issues.I enjoy this consulting work as it typically occurs ...

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