Homeowners and condominium associations in Michigan can now amend their rules to remove racially restrictive language. While the Fair Housing Act and other laws have been in place to prevent discriminatory practices in housing, the act did not apply to homeowners’...
Co-op Housing Discrimination
What are differences between condos, apartments and co-ops?
Living situations vary based on several factors, including the management of units in a building. While apartments, condos and co-ops may appear similar on the outside, they are different in many ways. When contemplating the kind of structure to put in place,...
Steps you can take to help protect your housing co-op from a lawsuit
Housing cooperatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more Americans decide that they’d rather live in a close-knit community alongside people with similar goals and priorities. While living in a housing co-op can be quite pleasant,...
A look at discrimination and cooperative housing law
A housing cooperative (co-op) is a residency owned and operated by its members, many of whom are residents. Members get a certificate that verifies membership in the Michigan co-op. Cooperative housing laws prevent these corporations from engaging in discriminatory...
What do reasonable accommodations look like for housing co-ops?
By definition, housing co-ops are more exclusive than other types of housing, such as condominiums and apartments. Thus, the board of a co-op can be more selective in what they choose to require of their shareholder-residents, and which accommodations they choose to...
The seven protected classes for fair housing
Co-op housing in Michigan needs to follow fair housing laws. The Fair Housing Act protects several classes of people from being discriminated against in their housing. Co-op housing managers need to understand how this law affects their housing and ensure that they...
Lawsuit aims to thwart HUD’s rollback of fair housing protections
HUD’s recent efforts to gut fair housing protections is facing pushback from civil rights and fair housing advocates. Civil rights groups and advocates that specialize in cooperative housing law have sued the Trump Administration to ensure the protections remain in...
Is your co-op in compliance with the FHA?
When you are a board member for your co-op, you have a lot of responsibilities on your plate. One of the most important ones is keeping the co-op in compliance with the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The FHA, part of the Civil Rights Act in 1968, protects certain classes...
How to limit liability in potential harassment claims
No board wants to consider that a member of their management agency or an employee of their housing association would engage in harassment or discrimination of any kind. But if a claim proceeds to litigation, it’s crucial for housing associations to understand the law...
Can my landlord discriminate against me for being Muslim?
With refugees coming in from the Middle East, Michigan has seen an increase in Muslim populations. The good thing is that your landlord cannot discriminate against you based on your religion. You have rights as a tenant if your landlord does discriminate against you...