Posted on 05/24/2016 7:16:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Four Latino families filed papers to sue their Virginia landlord Monday after he threatened eviction due to illegal family members living on the premises.
The civil rights lawsuit filed by families living in Waples Mobile Home Park in Fairfax County, Va., claims it is discriminatory to require a social security number for residency. The landlords at the mobile home park are requiring residents to provide either a social security card, passport or valid visa with documentation to renew their leases, reports The Washington Post.
The lawyers representing the families, from the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan law firm, say the actions are targeted discrimination which disproportionately affects Latinos in the community. All the families involved in the lawsuit have lived in the park for at least two years and have at least one family member without legal residency. The landlords say they need the documentation in order to conduct proper criminal background checks.
The suit filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia says the requirement violates the Fair Housing Act and the Virginia Fair Housing law, according to WJLA.
“This type of discrimination is all too common, but the law is unfortunately far from clear,” Ivy Finkenstadt of LAJC said in a statement. “Many cities and counties across the country have tried to put into place similar laws, and they have routinely been struck down by the federal courts.”
The lawsuit also alleges the landlord changed the lease status to month-to-month for any family with an illegal individual living in the residence. A member of one of the families said they already had to leave their home due to the demands of the landlord.
“They’re kicking out people who have a history of paying bills on time and who have been good tenants,” Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, director of the LAJC, told The Washington Post. “Even if the court ultimately decides the landlord has a right to do this, it’s equally clear the landlord doesn’t have to do this.”
Try establishing utilities. They require all the same. Go sue the utility companies.
Landlords punished for following the law.
Jeb Bush or Zuckerberg can provide him housing, its act of love.
There’s no discrimination. The owner has a responsibility to protect his tenants and his property.
Oh for the good old days when the OWNER of the property decided who he wanted living there.
.
They don’t even have standing to sue. THEY’RE FRICKING ILLEGAL!
Let’s you and I sneak down to Mexico and demand bottomless Margaritas.
[Their lawyers] "say the actions are targeted discrimination which disproportionately affects Latinos in the community."
It's not racist to point out who is breaking the law...
Too bad the lawbreakers are "disproprotionately" of one ethnic group, that doesn't prove racial discrimination.
Discrimination against legal, law-abiding citizens, on the other hand...
Demanding they can live thirty to a room. How dare that landlord ask for references.
Illegal is illegal. Good for these landlords trying to eliminate illegal activities from their property. They should be cheered, not sued. The government should deport the illegal aliens. End of story.
“And our position is that the court should decide the landlord may not do this.”
Isn’t Obamaland great?
I guess if you didn’t like it, you’d stop voting for it.
So shut your bigoted face and go pay your taxes. Illegal aliens who hate you need the money. LOL! :)
Hey 2nd, we live in Texas, I’m sure there are illegals everywhere renting and buying via lease purchase. Usually the landlords don’t care unless of course there are 30 to a dwelling.
I’d imagine in VA the illegals may win but not so much here in my county.
How can you have a contract w/somebody you can’t identify?
One would think an illegal alien would be deported from any sane country.
Land of opportunity, oh oh oh oh
When we lived in Az we had to provide a copy of our marriage certificate because I didn’t change my name when we got married.
It is good business practice to ensure your tenants are safe, reliable and going to stick around. I have Ag rentals and I don’t rent to unknown tenants.
The owner has a responsibility to protect his tenants and his property.”
In another time I would also say that the owner has the right to protect his property. But, unfortunately, that is no longer true.
Entering into a contract with someone for more than $5k such as a year’s lease on a space in a mobile home park? You’d better get ID, else you could possibly be tripped up by the Patriot Act. Credit (and eviction) checks on all tenants? Absolutely, especially anyone who suddenly shows up and starts staying on property - what if they’re a huge risk for eviction proceedings? Get them out before they establish residency and you have to go through a whole lot of trouble.
All in all, good luck with the lawsuit. Even with a sympathetic judge, I don’t think this is going far.
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