Hi recife,
Thank you for an interesting question.
The answer is no, there are no Fair Housing Days in those areas. I
made several phone calls to realtors and brokers in the area and no
one ever heard of Fair Housing Days. I contacted:
Aguilar Mario - Century 21
4110 Aspen Hill Rd #101
Rockville, MD 20853
(301) 871-0088
Aiken Benjamin - Concord Realty
912 Thayer Ave #104
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-5272
Bowser Sandy - Weichert Realtors - largest realtor in the area
3905 National Dr #160
Burtonsville, MD 20866
(301) 681-0444
I also called realtors where I live and they never heard of Fair Housing Days.
If you have general questions regarding Fair Housing, I've provided
all Fair Housing contact information for Montgomery County, Maryland
which includes Takoma Park and Silver Springs, MD.
Montgomery County
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Content/HumanRights/brochures/lending.pdf
Chapter 27 of the Montgomery County Code makes it illegal to
discriminate in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race,
sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, color, religion,
national origin, ancestry, presence of children, source of income,
sexual orientation or age.
The Office of Human Rights investigates and conciliates complaints
filed under Chapter 27.
The Federal Government
The Fair Housing Amendments Act makes it illegal to discriminate in
the sale or rental of housing on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.
If You Suspect Discrimination
Contact:
Montgomery County
Office of Human Rights
(240) 777-8450
U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
1-(800) 669-9777
Maryland Real Estate Commission
(410) 333-6230
Maryland Commission on
Human Relations
(410) 767-8600
Montgomery County, Maryland
Office of Human Rights
110 North Washington Street
Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20850
Main: (240) 777-8450
TTY: (240) 777-8480
FAX: (240) 777-8460
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Montgomery County, Maryland - Office of Human Rights
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/Content/HumanRights/fairhousing.asp
If you feel you have been a victim of housing discrimination and would
like to file a complaint, visit the Compliance Section:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/Content/HumanRights/compliance.asp
of this web site, or call 240/777-8450 or TTY 240/777-8480. To obtain
information on fair housing or to arrange for training for your
business, group, or organization, call 240/777-8450. Informational
brochures are also available below.
=================================================
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Fair
Housing and Equal Opportunity - Fair Housing It's Your Right
http://consumerlawpage.com/brochure/fair-hse.shtml
[edit]
What to Tell HUD:
* Your name and address
* The name and address of the person your complaint is against (the respondent)
* The address or other identification of the housing involved
* A short description of the alleged violation (the event that caused
you to believe your rights were violated)
* The date(s) of the alleged violation
Where to Write: Send the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form or a
letter to the HUD regional office nearest you (addresses on the
Complaint Form) or to:
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Room 5204
Washington, D.C. 20410-2000
Where to Call: if you wish, you may use the toll-free Hotline number:
1-800-669-9777. (In Washington, D.C. call 708-0836.)
If You Are Disabled: HUD also provides:
* A toll-free TDD phone for the hearing impaired: 1-800-927-9275. (In
Washington, D.C., call 708-0836.)
* Interpreters
* Tapes and braille materials
* Assistance in reading and completing forms
What Happens When You File A Complaint?
HUD will notify you when it receives your complaint. Normally, HUD also will:
* Notify the alleged violator of your complaint and permit that person
to submit an answer
* Investigate your complaint and determine whether there is reasonable
cause to believe the Fair Housing Act has been violated
* Notify you if it cannot complete an investigation within 100 days of
receiving your complaint
Conciliation: HUD will try to reach an agreement with the person your
complaint is against (the respondent). A conciliation agreement must
protect both you and the public interest. If an agreement is signed,
HUD will take no further action on your complaint. However, if HUD has
reasonable cause to believe that a conciliation agreement is breached,
HUD will recommend that the Attorney General file suit.
Complaint Referrals: If HUD has determined that your State or local
agency has the same fair housing powers as HUD, HUD will refer your
complaint to that agency for investigation and notify you of the
referral. That agency must begin work on your complaint within 30 days
or HUD may take it back.
What If You Need Help Quickly?
If you need immediate help to stop a serious problem that is being
caused by a Fair Housing Act violation, HUD may be able to assist you
as soon as you file a complaint. HUD may authorize the Attorney
General to go to court to seek temporary or preliminary relief,
pending the outcome of your complaint, if:
* Irreparable harm is likely to occur without HUD's intervention
* There is substantial evidence that a violation of the Fair Housing Act occurred
Example: A builder agrees to sell a house but, after learning the
buyer is black, fails to keep the agreement. The buyer files a
complaint with HUD. HUD may authorize the Attorney General to go to
court to prevent a sale to any other buyer until HUD investigates the
complaint.
What Happens After A Complaint Investigation?
If, after investigating your complaint, HUD finds reasonable cause to
believe that discrimination occurred, it will inform you. Your case
will be heard in an administrative hearing within 120 days, unless you
or the respondent want the case to be heard in Federal district court.
Either way, there is no cost to you.
The Administrative Hearing: If your case goes to an administrative
hearing HUD attorneys will litigate the case on your behalf. You may
intervene in the case and be represented by your own attorney if you
wish. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will consider evidence from
you and the respondent. If the ALJ decides that discrimination
occurred, the respondent can be ordered:
[edit]
Other Tools to Combat Housing Discrimination
* If there is noncompliance with the order of an Administrative Law
Judge, HUD may seek temporary relief, enforcement of the order or a
restraining order in a United States Court of Appeals.
* The Attorney General may file a suit in Federal District Court if
there is reasonable cause to believe a pattern or practice of housing
discrimination is occurring.
For Further Information:
The purpose of this brochure is to summarize your right to fair
housing. The Fair Housing Act and HUD's regulations contain more
detail and technical information. If you need a copy of the law or
regulations, contact the HUD regional office nearest you or:
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Room 5116
Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 2041 0-2000
(202) 708-2878
=================================================
FAIR HOUSING NEWS - A newsletter about fair housing, community
development, and neighborhood quality of life
http://www.gbchrb.org/fhnews20035.htm
(c) 2003, Greater Baltimore Community Housing Resource Board, Inc.
(GBCHRB) October-November, 2003 / Vol. 9, No. 5
Maryland's Hispanic Population Grew Rapidly During 2000-2002 with
Increases Mostly in the Washington Suburbs. Some 24,011 of the 28,594
increase occurred in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, where
approximately 70% of Hispanics reside in the State. Hispanics also
increased in Baltimore City (11,081 to 11,511), Baltimore County
(13,774 to 14,981), and Anne Arundel County (12,902 to 13,490). There
are now 256,510 Hispanics and just less than 240,000 Asians in
Maryland, which had a total population in 2002 of 5,458,137.
Incidentally, roughly one-third of the State's Asian population lives
in Montgomery County, and a third in Prince George's, Baltimore, and
Howard counties. (Baltimore Sun, September 18, 2003:1B)
=================================================
Fair Housing Act
http://www.legal-database.com/fair-housing-act.htm
Thanks to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, discrimination is no longer
allowed in the realm of housing. It is illegal to discriminate against
race, color, national origin, sex, family status, or disability. You
cannot refuse to sell or rent to any individual who is a member of one
of those classes who makes a legitimate offer. Moreover, a landlord
cannot even charge a higher security deposit or change the terms of a
lease based on one?s family status, i.e. the existence of children. It
also illegal to ask for higher application fees based on race. It is
also against the Fair Housing Act to lie to minorities and say there
are no units for sale or rent if it?s untrue. Nor is it permissible
for a real estate agent to steer a white person or family into a white
neighborhood or a black person or family into a black neighborhood.
Likewise, under the Fair Housing Act, a landlord must make reasonable
accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
If you feel you have suffered from discrimination based on race, sex,
religion, family status, or national origin, you can file a lawsuit,
in which case you must prove that the housing was available, you
applied for it, you were rejected, and the house stayed on the market
after you were rejected. If you can show that, a burden is then pushed
upon the owner of the house to show a legitimate reason for denying
you the house that is not based on your protected class.
=================================================
http://www.co.frederick.md.us/HumanRelations/
Montgomery County Human Rights Office
110 North Washington Street
Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 777-8450 (main number)
(240) 777-8460 (fax)
(240) 777-8480 (TTY)
If you work in Montgomery County and live in Frederick County you may
be able to file a complaint of discrimination through the Montgomery
County office, or the MCHR address provided above.
=================================================
http://www.rentnet.com/apartments/fyp/ask_the_advisor/QA_18.jhtml.
Limits on rent increases
Question: I am on a month-to-month lease. I received a rent increase
in October 2000 from $790/mo. to $819/mo. to remain on month-to-month.
My complex is now under a new management company and I received a
letter stating that to comply with the market value, I will receive
yet another rent increase with the following lease options: $845/1
yr.; $920/6 mo. or $945/month-to-month. I understand that I'm on
month-to-month lease, and therefore I don't have a leg to stand on.
But, I would like to know what the percentage rate increase limits for
rental properties in the state of Maryland are? When I received my
last increase in October 2000, I was told it's 4% for a 1 yr. lease
and 7% for month-to-month. Is this correct?
[edit]
Answer:
For example, Montgomery County, Maryland requires 60 days notice of
any rental increase and limits rental increases to once every 12
months. (If you live in Montgomery County, Lisa, see the following
link to the Montgomery County Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs
Landlord Tenant Guide.)
{please note: dead link}
=================================================
Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs
http://montgomerycountymd.gov/dhctmpl.asp
Montgomery County, Maryland - Office of Human Rights
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/HumanRights/index.asp
=================================================
keyword search:
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Best regards,
tlspiegel |
