Regional Management Company Pays $32,500 for Refusing to Permit Reserved Parking Spaces for Residents with Disabilities

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (“HECP”) has entered into a conciliation agreement resolving a federal housing discrimination complaint against Marks and Company (“Marks”) and four apartment complexes in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties for violating the disability portion of the federal Fair Housing Act.

 

From September to December of 2021, HECP investigated four apartment complexes managed by Marks and found that the management company had a policy of denying reserved parking spaces to prospective renters with disabilities who requested an assigned space due to either mobility or cardiovascular conditions. In response, HECP filed a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

 

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, known as the Fair Housing Act, makes it unlawful to discriminate in connection with any housing related transaction, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. Housing providers are obligated under this law to permit reasonable accommodations, or changes in policies or practices, when necessary for residents with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwellings.

 

“The Fair Housing Act has prohibited disability discrimination, including the denial of reasonable accommodations, since 1988. Numerous resources are available to assist housing professionals with understanding their compliance responsibilities. Despite this, violations of the law remain common. Property managers and other housing providers have the duty to educate themselves and their agents regarding their obligations under the Fair Housing Act.” said Rachel Wentworth, Executive Director of HECP.

 

Marks admitted no wrongdoing, but signed an agreement that will result in the payment of $32,500 to cover a portion of the costs incurred to bring about the agreement and to provide future consumer education regarding the fair housing rights of persons with disabilities. Additionally, Marks has agreed to participate in comprehensive fair housing training and to revise their policies to comply with the Fair Housing Act.

 

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania has worked since 1956 to eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy, and enforcement of fair housing laws. HECP’s work serves a population of over 4.65 million in the seven-county Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions. As the nation’s oldest fair housing agency, HECP’s successes include eradicating discriminatory practices at over 50,000 units of housing. HECP’s investigations are funded in part by the Fair Housing Initiatives Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HECP was represented in this matter by Abara Law Firm.