A landlord in Wisconsin is facing a lawsuit after rejecting an applicant who she felt could not shovel snow.
According to charges filed by the housing authority, when a single woman called to inquire about renting a house, the female landlord told the applicant that she would not show her the property or rent to her because the tenant would not be living with a man who could shovel snow and maintain the property.
During the investigation, this landlord admitted that she believed a single woman would not be able to handle the “seclusion” of the single-family property as well as the snow-removal policy. The landlord said that she didn’t want the woman calling her all the time to come out to fix things or to plow her out.
The landlord also told a HUD investigator that she never rents to single women with children, “especially not in the country.” The landlord went on to offer her opinions regarding single women to HUD staff several times during the investigation.
She subsequently rented the property to two men.
The case could result in fines, which have proven substantial in previous cases, payment of the government’s attorneys fees, as well as performance mandates such as completing additional training in discrimination policies.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.
