Florida apartment complex to pay $265,000 to resolve Fair Housing claims: DOJ

FLORIDA — An apartment complex in Orlando has agreed to pay $265,000 to resolve alleged Fair Housing Act violations, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Concord Court at Creative Village Partners LTD., Concord Management LTD., related entities, and a property manager have agreed to pay $265,000 to resolve allegations that they discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act by imposing unlawful restrictions on minors at an apartment complex in Orlando.

The complex, Amelia Court at Creative Village, is a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit development with more than 250 market-rate and affordable units, the DOJ said.

Under the consent order, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the defendants will pay $260,000 to residents who were harmed by their practices and a civil penalty to the government to vindicate the public interest, the DOJ said.

The settlement also requires the defendants to implement nondiscrimination policies and provide fair housing training to employees with management or leasing responsibilities at over 80 residential rental properties they own or operate in Florida, the DOJ said in its statement.

“Families with children should not be subject to discrimination to access or live in affordable housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

“The Justice Department will continue to fight for the fair housing rights of families across the country.”

“Discriminatory practices that deny families equal and fair access to housing and all of their available amenities are inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida.

According to the DOJ, Amelia Court at Creative Village includes two apartment towers, Concord Court and Amelia Court. The defendants manage both towers and own Concord Court’s residential units, the DOJ said.

The government’s complaint, filed on Friday, alleges that the defendants refused to issue building access devices to minor residents, prohibited children from common areas and amenities unless supervised by adults, and misrepresented the availability of units in Concord Court to families with children.

The case arose when 10 families who resided at the complex filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which determined that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act. The matters were referred to the Justice Department, which conducted its own investigation and filed this lawsuit, the DOJ said.

Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at  Amelia Court at Creative Village because they have children should send an e-mail to the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then dial 1 for discrimination in housing and 4 to reach the voicemail box for this case).