Friday, June 21, 2013

Nashville Landlord To Cough Up $170K+ To Identify, Compensate Hispanic Tenants Who Were Allegedly Intimidated, Harassed & Otherwise Screwed Over On The Basis Of Their National Origin

From the Department of Housing and Urban Development:
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced {[] that a Nashville, TN, apartment complex will pay more than $170,000 as part of a settlement resolving allegations that it discriminated against Hispanic tenants based on their national origin.
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  • After being told about the complex’s discriminatory rental practices, HUD filed a Secretary-initiated complaint alleging that TriTex Real Estate Advisors, Inc., of Atlanta, and its management company terminated lease agreements, ignored maintenance requests, and intimidated and harassed Hispanic tenants.

    Under the terms of the agreement, the manager and owner will establish a $150,000 victims’ compensation fund for former residents administered by an independent agency and to pay $10,000 each to two non-profit organizations – the Tennessee Fair Housing Council and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) – to identify potential claimants. In addition, TriTex and its management company will adopt fair housing policies and its employees will undergo fair housing training.
For the HUD press release, see HUD And Owners,  Managers Of Tennessee Apartment Complex Settle Allegations Of Discrimination Against Hispanic Tenants (Manager and owner to establish $150,000 victims’ compensation fund).