Section 8-First time landlord and already in trouble! Please help

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Section 8-First time landlord and already in trouble! Please help

Nina V.
Columbia, MD · Member since 2016 · 8 posts · 1 vote

Hi All,

In the process of renting our property, we received many applications. One of them was an aggressive lady on section 8. She assured us she has excellent credit score. My dad who was helping with the process, sent her a text saying that we don't participate in the section 8 "scheme" (poor choice of words, he should have thought it through). She filed a complaint against us to the department of human rights saying we discriminated against her and believe the section 8 program is a scheme. We emailed her an application but she didn't submit it due to the text message. What do I do now? Hire an attorney? What are my rights?

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Matthew Kreitzer
Attorney · Winchester, VA · Member since 2015 · 726 posts · 387 votes
10y

Do not listen to anyone on this website. Full stop. Although there may not be any federal law on the issue of Section 8 discrimination, there may very well be local laws and ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on income sources. DO NOT listen to anyone but a licensed attorney in your state. Immediately seek out a landlord tenant lawyer.

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  • Nina V.
    OP
    Columbia, MD · Member since 2016 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    Hi All- a quick update. I did contact an attorney. She is advising me through the process. Dept of Human Rights has started an investigation. We have a strong case- we have multiple emails discussing how this individual would infact make a good tenant and the complainant did not submit her application until another tenant had been accepted. Overall, this is an inconvenience I need to deal with and is definitely a learning experience.

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  • WAYNE G.
    COCKEYSVILLE, MD · Member since 2009 · 65 posts · 28 votes
    10y

    Put Howard County Source of Income into Google and you will find a story in the Baltimore Sun from 2012 about this exact situation.  Unfortunately it doesn't tell how that story ended, but does say most cases are resolved before they get that far.

    Howard and Montgomery counties, in Maryland, have laws prohibiting discrimination for source of income. Statewide legislation on this has failed to pass the General Assembly more than once, so the law varies by county.

    You can meet with other landlords at 6:30 on Monday 3/28 at the Canton Docksider.  Maybe someone there can recommend an attorney familiar with Howard County.  I plan on being there so if you come ask Eddie to point out Wayne Gemmill.

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  • Account Closed
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 688 votes
    10y
    Why would u say scheme? What a stupid comment.....but its not illegal not to deal with section 8
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  • Account Closed
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 688 votes
    10y
    By the way, any lawsuit seeking damages is baseless. Tell them in small claims court to go **** themselves
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  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Kimberly H.:

    @Thomas S. it would be great if you could share a few things that happened to you, what the lawyer letter said, and how it was resolved. I think for newer people the threat seems scarier than it is. 

     I will start a separate thread on this when I get a chance.

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  • Robert Blanchard
    Littleton, CO · Member since 2014 · 195 posts · 72 votes
    10y

    @Nina V.  Did your Attorney tell you if you have to accept applications from Section 8 applicants, or can you say that you are not approved for Section 8 and refer them to the Section 8 approved list of rentals website or phone number?

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  • Kyle D.
    Investor · Waxhaw, NC · Member since 2014 · 28 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    Is saying something is a "scheme" illegal???

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  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Kyle D.:

    Is saying something is a "scheme" illegal???

     Where this happened, source of income is a protected class. It would be no different than calling a minority a racial slur and saying you do not rent to that minority group.

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  • Michele GallowayPro Member
    Investor · Windsor Mill, MD · Member since 2010 · 29 posts · 11 votes
    10y

    I wanna know if you saw her voucher.  Are you sure she was on Section 8?  I would like to know how things turned out for you too.

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