Criminal background checks are the latest battleground for potential race discrimination claims. If it’s been a while since you last reviewed your policy, it’s important to check to make sure your policy doesn’t run afoul HUD guidelines addressing the discriminatory effect that criminal background policies may have on racial and ethnic minorities.

Who bought a planner for 2020?  Doesn’t that seem like the most useless purchase now?

Fear, failure, and uncertainty have been words we have heard, seen, and felt this year.  2020 has certainly thrown us a curve ball, and if you are like the most of us, you had no plan or procedure on how to deal with a global pandemic.  I have been instructing emergency preparedness for over 15 years, and Covid19 has never been in my research or curriculum.  It will be from now on.  I have always dedicated time to address the necessity of proper PPE.  You can bet that will be even more emphasized now. And what about technology and the ability to quickly pivot to a remote workforce? Did this fit into a pre-2020 emergency plan?  Probably not, but now that piece is vital.

When showing available units in your community, refrain from any comments or conduct that suggest a prospect should—or shouldn’t—live at your community, or in a particular area within your community—because of her race or color. It’s considered “steering,” an unlawful practice under the FHA, if you direct, guide, or encourage prospects, based on an illegally discriminatory reason, to rent only certain units at a community or to seek alternate living options.

Rule #2: Apply Uniform Qualification Standards, Regardless of Race

Question:  I am confused on the use of rules violation notices.  Do I use a 20-day notice or 30-day notice?  Does the “three strikes law” apply?

This month MHCO focuses on fulfilling your obligation to comply with fair housing rules banning discrimination based on race and color with a six part series – with six rules community owners and managers need to follow.

Question.Landlord has given resident notification of expiration of lease term, but tenant has not responded.  What does landlord do when there is no response from resident?  Should she still accept rent, which would turn it into a month-to-month tenancy? What is the best strategy?

The owners and operators of an Illinois mobile home community recently agreed to pay $251,500 to settle a lawsuit alleging race discrimination, according to the Justice Department. The complaint alleged that the former manager imposed more burdensome application requirements to discourage African-American prospects from living there.

Question.  I have a tenant requesting a reasonable accommodation for a ramp. On the MHCO From 15 (Reasonable Accommodation Request), is says the tenant is responsible for the costs and removal for a modification unless required by law. Is it required by the law to install a ramp? This would mean the Park would pay for it, or is it not a law and a tenant would have to pay the costs to get one installed? We own the unit and space. It is a mobile home rental.

Question: We were awarded a stipulated payment agreement  prior to the moratorium going into effect. The resident has defaulted on their agreement but has tried to make partial payments. If the courts were open, we could file a notice of noncompliance and move forward with an eviction. But the way I understand our current landscape is,  if we take a partial payment that’s not equal to his stipulated payment agreement,  it gets thrown out and we would have to start the process all over again.   It would be great if we could accept the payments and if by the time the moratorium was over and the resident was still behind on then we could file on the defaulted agreement.