Our Client - : ‘Noisy’ Baby Prompts Illegal Eviction Notice
Haley Spears has lived in her apartment for six years, paid her rent on time, and never had a problem with the complex management until she received a late-night call from the property manager saying that her noisy baby was disturbing a neighbor. A single mother of two young children, Haley was surprised by the call; her 11-month-old was a relatively quiet child who hadn’t yet learned to walk.
Haley responded that she was not aware that the baby was bothering anyone, but the manager didn’t like that answer, saying that she was inconvenienced by having to deal with the complaint. The manager told Haley that if the complaints didn’t stop, then she would need to find another place to live.
Shortly thereafter, Haley received a 30-day notice to vacate. At the same time, the manager began turning away people with families, saying that they no longer rented to people with children.
Haley reached out to Legal Aid for help. The attorney assigned to the case sent a demand letter to both the property manager and complex owner to inform them that any eviction would be illegal if based on family status. He further said that if it was true that they refused to rent to families, the complex owners would be in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
After receiving this letter, the owners not only rescinded the notice to vacate but also presented Haley with a new lease and reassigned the manager’s duties so that she would no longer deal with tenants.
Haley responded that she was not aware that the baby was bothering anyone, but the manager didn’t like that answer, saying that she was inconvenienced by having to deal with the complaint. The manager told Haley that if the complaints didn’t stop, then she would need to find another place to live.
Shortly thereafter, Haley received a 30-day notice to vacate. At the same time, the manager began turning away people with families, saying that they no longer rented to people with children.
Haley reached out to Legal Aid for help. The attorney assigned to the case sent a demand letter to both the property manager and complex owner to inform them that any eviction would be illegal if based on family status. He further said that if it was true that they refused to rent to families, the complex owners would be in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
After receiving this letter, the owners not only rescinded the notice to vacate but also presented Haley with a new lease and reassigned the manager’s duties so that she would no longer deal with tenants.