Fair housing rules touch nearly every decision a housing authority, developer, or landlord makes. A complaint or audit can land on your desk without warning, and the clock starts ticking.
At Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC, we guide public and private housing providers through compliance, leasing, development, and discrimination defense across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Rooted in the century-long service of Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., our team brings steady counsel built on integrity and practical results.
Key Legal Frameworks Governing Fair Housing
A clear grasp of the rules helps prevent complaints and costly litigation. The laws below shape daily operations for public and private housing providers.
Federal Protections Under the Fair Housing Act
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits discrimination tied to specified protected classes. These protections apply to advertising, screening, rental terms, and termination. The FHA also provides protections against retaliation.
The FHA applies to rentals, sales, and lending, which affects property managers and public housing agencies alike. In addition to the FHA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues rules and guidance that set expectations for FHA policies, notices, and recordkeeping.
Massachusetts State Law Context
Massachusetts provides protections in addition to the FHA. Under M.G.L. c. 151B, housing providers cannot discriminate based on certain protected classes. State law also bars discriminatory advertising and steering.
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) enforces these rules through investigations, conciliation, and hearings. State agencies and courts can order monetary damages, training, policy updates, and civil penalties.
How Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC Assists Clients
You need policies that work in the field and hold up under review. Our attorneys build processes that fit real buildings, staff, and budgets.
Proactive Compliance and Policy Development
We draft and review screening standards, waiting list procedures, tenant selection plans, and application forms. Our team aligns your leases and policies with federal guidance, state rules, and program handbooks. We also refresh policies after inspections or new case law.
Common projects we handle include the following:
- Annual audits of files, notices, and adverse action letters.
- Fair housing and reasonable accommodation training for site staff and boards.
- Updates to marketing and screening to remove biased language.
- Guidance for community rules on parking, amenities, and safety devices.
We follow up with short action plans and simple checklists your team can use right away.
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications
We help landlords assess written and verbal requests, then gather any needed third-party information within the bounds of the law. Our guidance covers assistance animals, parking, live-in aides, and rent policies.
When disagreements do arise, a fast and organized response matters. Our team can help you engage in the interactive process and draft a final response that complies with all state and federal regulations.
Administrative Advocacy and Litigation Defense
We defend clients before HUD, MCAD, and local commissions, from intake to hearing. Our team prepares position statements, timelines, and witness outlines that match the facts and set your team up for success..
Throughout the case, we keep you updated with plain-language reports and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to issues we hear often from housing authorities and property owners.
What constitutes a reasonable accommodation for a disability?
Common examples include allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pet rule or assigning an accessible parking space. Other requests can involve a rent payment date change linked to benefit timing or a transfer to a comparable accessible unit.
Landlords should engage in a good-faith dialogue and respond in writing.
Protect Your Organization With Practical Fair Housing Counsel
Fair housing issues require careful attention to policy, training, and day-to-day decision-making. Casey, Burns & Jean-Felix, PLLC helps housing providers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire review fair housing practices, address open matters, and reduce risk with practical, responsive legal guidance.
If you need help reviewing your policies, handling a dispute, or strengthening staff training, call 978-878-3519 or visit our Contact Us page to schedule a consultation. We welcome your questions and are ready to help your team move forward with clarity, confidence, and steady support.