Recent Court Rulings

Owner Not Liable for Contractor's Injuries

September 29, 2015    
Facts: An independent contractor sued the owner of an assisted site for injuries she suffered when she fell through a second-floor bathroom. The site manager had called the contractor, who owned and operated a business that performed cleaning and repair services, after a resident had filed a HUD...
Recent Court Rulings

Owner's Complaints Against PHA Aren't Constitutionally Protected Speech

September 29, 2015    
Facts: An owner participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program sued the local housing authority for allegedly violating his first amendment rights by retaliating against him for opposing its improper conduct.
The Trainer

The Trainer — October 2015

September 29, 2015    
Complying with Recent HUD Memos; Calculating Utility Allowances In this month’s feature, we discussed recent HUD memoranda and housing notices that include four additional issues that HUD-assisted sites need to include in their resident selection plans. HUD asks owners to review their...
Feature

Q&A on the High Court's Ruling on Disparate Impact Liability

September 11, 2015    
Everyone agrees that federal fair housing law covers intentional discrimination, but there were lingering questions about whether it also applies to what’s known as “disparate impact” discrimination—housing practices that appear to be neutral, but have an unfair effect on...
In the News

HUD Programs and Congress' Impending FY 2016 Appropriations Fight

September 11, 2015    
On Sept. 8, Congress returned from recess and lawmakers scheduled 12 legislative days before the start of the 2016 fiscal year on Oct. 1. In that time, Congress must come to a broad new agreement that lifts legally imposed spending caps or, more likely, pass a short-term measure, known as a...
In the News

Summary of House-Passed Anti-Fair Housing Amendments to FY 2016 Appropriations Bills

September 11, 2015    
In June, the House of Representatives voted to pass its FY 2016 spending bills for the Department of Justice (Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill) and HUD (Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Funding Bill). Both bills contain several amendments that would limit...
In the News

Housing Tax and Subsidy Programs' Effectiveness at Closing the Income Inequality Gap

September 11, 2015    
A recent study from the Urban Institute examined the relationships between housing subsidies, the mortgage interest and real estate tax deductions, and income inequality. It used data from the 2013 Current Population Survey (CPS), which the federal government uses for its official measures of...
The Trainer

The Trainer — Fall 2015 Special Issue

September 11, 2015    
Avoiding Fair Housing Trouble In this Special Issue, we discussed what the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding liability for “disparate impact” discrimination under the Fair Housing Act means for owners and managers of assisted housing sites. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) bans...
Feature

How to Request 'Add-On' Management Fees for Demanding Long-Term Site Conditions

August 12, 2015    
Are you dealing with unusual long-term management problems or extra administrative burdens at your site? For instance, do you have unusually high maintenance and security costs because you’re managing a site in a deteriorated area with a high incidence of crime and vandalism? Or are you...
Dealing with Households

Getting Help for Suspected Victims of Elder Abuse or Neglect

August 12, 2015    
Many elderly residents are capable of living independently. But sooner or later, you may have an elderly resident who has trouble coping with day-to-day concerns, such as managing money, paying rent on time, or keeping his unit tidy. Or you may suspect elder abuse within a household. In general,...