HUD Charges Apartment With Religious Discrimination

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development brought an unusual housing discrimination case on Wednesday against Triple H. Realty, LLC of Lakewood, New Jersey. (HUD Press Release.) The complaint (full text) filed before an administrative law judge says that the owner, managing agent, and onsite superintendent of the Cottage Manor Apartments treated non-Jewish tenants less favorably than Jewish tenants in a number of ways, including imposing more restrictive rules and charging higher rents. The complaint alleged that respondents also attempted to set aside better-maintained buildings in the apartment complex for Jewish tenants. Non-Jewish Hispanic and African-American tenants were forced to transfer to buildings located in the rear of the apartment complex. The HUD complaint asks for a declaration that the respondents have violated the Fair Housing Act, an injunction against future violations, an award of damages and imposition of a civil penalty.