Articles — fair housing

MORE PROPOSED LANDLORD LEGISLATION There’s been a flurry of activity at our state legislature recently, with several new bills being filed that would impact the rental industry. Several of them repetitive, mirroring bills already filed in the other legislative chamber. And most of them are bad. Let’s take a look. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE  Senate Bill 289 – This bill is sponsored by Senator Reggie Thomas from Lexington. It would allow tenants to expunge any eviction judgment based on nonpayment of rent during the Covid-19 pandemic, beginning March 6, 2020. You can read the bill at this link. Senate Bill 357 –...

Greetings from a very icy Lexington, Kentucky. We’ve had some new developments that I wanted to update you about: (ANOTHER) NEW FAIR HOUSING EXECUTIVE ORDER  President Biden also signed an Executive Order asking federal government agencies to review laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex and to enforce those laws against discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.  In response, earlier today HUD issued a memo that they would be interpreting the Fair Housing Act as prohibiting housing discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity throughout the country. HUD and its state and local agencies will now be...

As we close out the first month of 2021, I hope your new year has gotten off to a good start. We’ve had some new developments in the rental industry, so here’s your update on where things stand: CDC Eviction Moratorium Likely to Be Extended  In my last update, I noted that it was almost certain that President Biden would seek to extend the moratorium beyond January 31. On his first day in office, he signed an Executive Order asking the CDC to extend their Eviction Moratorium through March 31, 2021, and they have agreed to do so.  He has...

I have two announcements today, both for Fayette County folks, and a Fair Housing update. JURY TRIALS POSTPONED First, all jury trials in Fayette County have been postponed until February. So, if you have a forcible detainer jury trial scheduled for November, December, or January, it has been postponed and you will get a new court date. NO IN-PERSON EVICTIONS DURING NOVEMBER Second, evictions in Fayette County will be done remotely during the month of November. That means if you have an eviction scheduled this month, you will need to contact the Fayette District Judges’ Office at (859) 246-2247 within...

Anyone who has been paying attention in the rental industry over the past few years is aware of the explosion of requests for Assistance Animals by tenants and those seeking to live in rental housing. While such requests used to limited to those with physical disabilities seeking to have their service dog live with them to guide their path, pull their wheelchair, or alert them to an oncoming seizure, most requests today are for Emotional Support Animals.  Such animals are typically untrained, with the theory being that their very presence alleviates the symptoms of a mental or emotional disability. Due...