An important case on familiar status discrimination

Mother of five receives $5,000 and ten years of free rent in familial status discrimination case Family could receive as much as an additional $21,500

The landlord's written rules included discriminatory and illegal provisions like "families may have no more than two children," "there is a $5.00 additional (rent) charge for each child," "children must be kept on individual lot," "children are not allowed to play or ride in front of the office or the park," "children should be off the street by sunset," and "all youth, 16 years of age and older must be off the street by 10:00 p.m., all youth under 16 years of age must be off the street by dark." These restrictions against families with children violate the fair housing laws of Louisville, the State of Kentucky, and the United States.

The Fair Housing Councils executive director, called the settlement a great resolution to the complaint. "Families with children have the same rights to housing as everyone else. Landlords and other housing providers cannot place restrictions on families due to their size, and they cannot place unreasonable restrictions on children. This settlement sends a strong message to housing providers who think they can treat families with children differently than their other tenants."

The Fair Housing Council's former staff attorney said that just because housing providers rent to families with children, it doesn't mean they can impose unfair rules against them. "To limit the number of children in a home but not the number of adults is ridiculous and illegal. The same is true when it comes to charging families additional rent for each child they have and telling parents when and where their children can play."