The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has asked a Virginia landlord to pay a fine of $34,000 for discriminating against a man with autism and his sister.
This is in violation of the Fair Housing Act, which makes it unlawful to deny housing or impose different rental terms and conditions based on disability, race, national origin, color, religion, sex, or familial status.
The fine includes $18,000 in damages to the woman and $16,000 in civil penalties to the government, a press release stated.
The complaint alleges that the landlord, Michael Corey, demanded the woman to purchase a $1 million insurance policy to cover any damages or injuries caused by her brother. He also asked her to sign an agreement assuming all legal liability for her brother’s actions, before he signed a lease agreement.
In addition, the woman was asked to obtain a doctor’s note regarding her brother’s condition.
Believing she was being discriminated against, the woman filed a fair housing complaint with HUD.
Defending his action, Corey said he believed “persons diagnosed with autism and mental retardation pose a greater risk in terms of liability.” HUD inferred that the landlord believed the brother would start a fire or attack neighbors because he was autistic.
“My brother’s one of the most loving persons you’ll ever meet,” the woman said in a statement. “He’s a human being and the idea he would harm anyone else brings me to tears.”
