Legal Aid of NC Settlement Involving Familial Status Discrimination and Online Housing Advertisements

On September 1, 2020, the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina entered into a conciliation agreement resolving a complaint it brought against the owners and managers of 810 Ninth Street Apartments, a multi-family housing community located in Durham, North Carolina.

The complaint, which had been filed with the Durham Human Relations Division, alleged familial status discrimination by advertising the property on its website as being available for “Ages 21 & Up,” and thereby indicating a preference, limitation, or discrimination that could discourage families with children from applying to rent an apartment. The complaint alleged violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and the City of Durham Fair Housing Ordinance. The Respondents denied the allegations.

As a result of the Conciliation Agreement signed by the parties and approved by the Durham Human Relations Division, the Respondents agreed to permanently remove the “Ages 21 & Up” language from the property’s website. Respondents further agreed that future online and print advertising materials would no include any such language or substantially similar language. Respondents’ management personnel and employees will also complete fair housing training.

Jeff Dillman, Co-Director of the Fair Housing Project, said, “We appreciate the Durham Human Relations Commission and the Respondents working quickly to address our complaint and remove the housing advertisements that denied equal housing opportunities to families with children. Not only do these types of advertisements violate the Fair Housing Act, but they harm our communities by discouraging families with young children from ever even applying to live in these desirable apartment communities.”