HUD Charges New Hampshire Property Managers and Landlord with Discrimination for a Retaliatory Eviction

HUD No. 24-271 HUD Public Affairs (202) 708-0685

FOR RELEASE Friday October 11, 2024

HUD Charges New Hampshire Property Managers and Landlord with Discrimination for a Retaliatory Eviction

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it has charged Greenview Associates L.P., Palmer Asset Management, LLC, and John Martin, property managers and landlord in Manchester, New Hampshire, with violating the Fair Housing Act by retaliating, threatening, or interfering with a tenant's fair housing rights. HUD's Charge of Discrimination alleges that, following the tenant's filing of a Fair Housing complaint with HUD, the landlord and property manager conducted a background check on the tenant, contrary to their usual practice of not running background checks on existing tenants, and then sought eviction of the tenant based on a long-ago event that the background check turned up. Read HUD's Charge.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing providers from retaliating against tenants because they exercised their rights under the Fair Housing Act.

"The conduct alleged in this Charge constitutes illegal retaliation under the Fair Housing Act," said Diane M. Shelley, HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "Today's charge sends a strong message that HUD is committed to ensuring that tenants who exercise their fair housing rights are protected from retaliatory evictions."

"The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from retaliating against individuals for asserting the rights afforded to them under the Fair Housing Act," said Damon Smith, HUD's General Counsel. "Today's charge represents HUD's commitment to ensuring that these basic rights are protected."

A United States Administrative Law Judge will hear HUD's charge unless any party to the charge elects to have the case heard in federal district court. If an administrative law judge finds, after a hearing, that discrimination has occurred, they may award damages to the individuals for their losses as a result of the discrimination. The judge may also order injunctive relief and other equitable relief, to deter further discrimination, as well as payment of attorney fees. In addition, the judge may impose civil penalties to vindicate the public interest. If the federal court hears the case, the judge may also award punitive damages to the complainant.

For more information on potentially discriminatory evictions, please refer to this HUD Fact Sheet.

People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice) 800-927-9275 (TTY). Additional information is available at www.hud.gov/fairhousing and www.justice.gov. Materials and assistance are available for persons with limited English proficiency. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the Department using the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.