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Website Accessibility

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A. J. Johnson
In recent years, there has been a spate of litigation relating to website accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA provides that no person shall be discriminated against in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods,…

Emotional Support Animals – How “Necessary” Are They?

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A. J. Johnson
Every apartment manager is familiar with “Emotional Support Animals,” or “ESAs.” I would venture to say there are very few multi-family communities in existence today that don’t have at least one resident with an ESA. And my experience has shown…

The State of Fair Housing – 2018

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A. J. Johnson
The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has published “Making Every Neighborhood a Place of Opportunity,” a report on the condition of fair housing in the United States in 2018. As much as anything else, the report highlights the Department of…

HUD-DOJ Initiative to Fight Sexual Harassment in Housing

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A. J. Johnson
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have begun a nationwide initiative intended to combat sexual harassment in housing. This effort includes an interagency task force between HUD and DOJ, an outreach toolkit,…

DOJ Announces New Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative

person
A. J. Johnson
On October 19, 2017, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. The initiative specifically seeks to increase DOJ efforts to protect women from harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers,…

Limited English Proficiency and Fair Housing

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A. J. Johnson
I recently came across a situation where an owner of a multifamily property had a policy of requiring that all applicants be able to communicate in English in order to apply for occupancy at the property. After discussing the issue…

Fees for Assistance Animals – Settlement Agreement, June 2017

person
A. J. Johnson
On June 9, 2017, HUD entered approved a settlement agreement between a Nevada fair housing organization and the owner and manager of four apartment complexes in Reno, NV. The agreement settles allegations of housing discrimination against disabled residents with assistance…

Liability Under the Fair Housing Act

person
A. J. Johnson
In many of my fair housing classes, the question often arises as to who is liable for a violation of fair housing law. The question is asked both my managers (who wonder if they can be held personally liable) and…

National Origin – Still a Protected Class

person
A. J. Johnson
Despite all the hyperbolic language regarding Muslim bans swamping the airways and newspapers, individuals are still protected from housing discrimination on the basis of their national origin. Recent efforts by the new administration to control entry into the United States…

Occupancy Standards – Recommendations and Best Practices

person
A. J. Johnson
All communities should have occupancy standards to prevent overcrowding of units. In the case of federally assisted properties, the standards should also prevent underutilization of space.   A primary goal of any occupancy standard should be to ensure that it…

Participation of Faith-Based Organizations in HUD Programs

person
A. J. Johnson
I received a call recently regarding the rights of a faith-based organization operating an apartment community when HUD funding is present at the community. The issue is important enough that I believe other clients may benefit from a general review…

Compliance with HUD Live-in Aide Rules

person
A. J. Johnson
Compliance with HUD Live-in Aide Rules   Allowing a Live-in Aide for a disabled person is both a HUD and fair housing requirement.   The definition of a live-in aide is a person who resides with one or more elderly…

Avoiding Discrimination Based on Sex in Housing

person
A. J. Johnson
Avoiding Discrimination Based on Sex in the Provision of Housing     Federal law did not prohibit sex discrimination in housing until 1974, when a non-controversial provision of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 added “sex” as a…

Housing Discrimination Based on Religion

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A. J. Johnson
Discrimination Based on Religion   In this third installment in my series on the Fair Housing Act protected categories, I want to review some of the issues relevant to discrimination based on religion.   Religion is one of the characteristics…

HUD Releases Final AFFH Assessment Tool

person
A. J. Johnson
HUD Releases Final AFFH Assessment Tool   On March 23, 2016, HUD published a Notice in the Federal Register regarding the final Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment tool. This tool is for Public Housing Agencies. HUD had already released assessment…

HUD Issues Guidance on Criminal Record Screening

person
A. J. Johnson
On April 4, 2016, the HUD Office of General Counsel (Helen R. Kanovsky) issued guidance on the relationship of using criminal records as a screening tool for housing decisions to federal fair housing laws. The essence of the guidance is…

Fair Housing Enforcement at LIHTC Properties

person
A. J. Johnson
Fair Housing Enforcement at LIHTC Properties   A violation of fair housing law is reportable noncompliance for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties. It is reported on Line 11h of IRS Form 8823, along with any other finding of noncompliance…

Discrimination Based on National Origin

person
A. J. Johnson
This is my second in a series of articles focusing in detail on each of the seven characteristics that are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. These seven characteristics (also known as “Protected Classes”) are race, color, national origin,…

Discrimination Based on Race

person
A. J. Johnson
Over the next few months, I intend to do a series of articles focusing in detail on each of the seven characteristics that are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. These seven characteristics (also known as “Protected Classes”) are…

Understanding Vicarious Liability

person
A. J. Johnson
Understanding “Vicarious Liability” – A Key Element of Harassment Liability Under Fair Housing Law   In October 2015, HUD issued a proposed rule to create a new fair housing regulation that will apply to both private and federally assisted communities.…

Online Training

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Guidance

The Professional Property Manager's Guide to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

An easy to understand and in-depth guide written by a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing compliance, A. J. Johnson.


The Professional Property Manager's Guide to the Violence Against Women Act

Designed to provide professionals in the affordable housing industry with an easy to understand reference manual for issues related to VAWA.

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