DFEH Settles Familial Status Discrimination Case Against Montebello Landlord

Sacramento – The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has reached a settlement with a Montebello landlord in a case involving a family who alleged that the landlord’s “house rules” discriminated against families with children.

The family filed a complaint with DFEH in March 2017 alleging that the landlord, who owns a 44-unit complex, had a number of rules discriminating against children who lived in the complex. Children were forbidden from using the swimming pool after 6 p.m., even though adults were free to use the pool until 9 p.m. Children were also prohibited from riding bicycles, using skateboards, or playing with hot wheels, wagons, or balls in common areas; rules that were not applied to adults. The family were also given warnings and a written notice regarding their child playing in common areas, even though the child was supervised. The family eventually moved out of their apartment due to the restrictions on where their child could play. DFEH found cause to believe that the landlord’s restrictions’ on children’s use of common areas in the complex violated the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). The landlord will pay the family $25,000 as part of a settlement agreement reached with DFEH.

“DFEH is committed to ensuring that families with children are not discriminated against in housing,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish. “Discriminatory restrictions on children’s use of common areas are not only against the law, but make it difficult for families with children to find and stay in suitable housing.

In addition to a monetary settlement, the landlord has agreed to change its rules on children’s play and use of common areas, obtain fair housing training for the owner and apartment manager, and post DFEH’s fair housing poster, Fair Housing: You are Protected Under California Law, at the property.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. CRD’s mission is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded programs and activities, and from hate violence and human trafficking. For more information, visit calcivilrights.ca.gov.

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