PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has charged D&D Realty Management LLC, an owner and manager of several rental properties in Providence, with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent to families with children, the department announced Tuesday.
The charge follows an investigation conducted by HUD that began after receiving a complaint from SouthCoast Fair Housing, a HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program agency operating in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The agency conducted tests after seeing a Facebook ad for remodeled student apartments and allegedly was told by the owner, “Unfortunately, we can’t allow children.” The owner was said to have canceled meetings to show apartments after learning that a tester had a child.
Testers that did not say they had a child were shown apartments and offered the opportunity to rent.
The case could be heard by a U.S. administrative law judge, or it could go to federal court, if the defendant chooses. If a judge finds that discrimination had occurred, the court may award damages to the complainant for losses that have resulted from the discrimination, may order injunctive relief and other equitable relief, and/or impose civil fines and penalties, HUD said.
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