Virginia Fair Housing Group Squeezes $33K From Landlord, Real Estate Brokerage To Settle Allegations Of Housing Discrimination Against Non-English Speaking Rental Applicant

In Richmond, Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports:

• Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia Inc. said Wednesday it had settled a discrimination complaint for $33,000 with two Richmond-area companies for alleged housing discrimination against a person who did not speak English.
  
  Richmond-based HOME filed the complaint against Executives Inc. Realty Group, a real estate brokerage in Chesterfield County, and CBP Properties LLC, a local property owner.
  
  The complaint alleged that a policy maintained by Executives Inc. requiring that at least one lease signer be able to sufficiently communicate in English constituted discrimination based on national origin.
  
  HOME alleged that the policy unfairly excluded otherwise qualified families from obtaining the housing of their choice because of their national origin.
  
  In December 2013, a Spanish-speaking woman accompanied by her bilingual daughter attempted to view a rental home in Richmond listed by Executives Inc. The woman was allegedly denied access to see the home when a receptionist learned that no adult on the lease would be able to speak sufficient English.
  
  In 2014, HOME investigated the claim, confirmed the policy and then filed a formal complaint with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD referred the case for investigation to the Virginia Fair Housing Office.
  
  ***
  To settle HOME’s claims, Executives Inc. changed its language policy, which now instructs staff to provide housing opportunities to prospective tenants regardless of their English proficiency.
  
  Executives’ Inc. staff will continue to attend regular fair-housing training. It also will reimburse HOME for costs and expenses incurred during the investigation.
  
  The original complainant settled her own fair-housing complaint with Executives Inc. to the satisfaction of both parties, according to a statement from HOME.

For the story, see HOME settles housing discrimination complaint with Chesterfield firm for $33,000.