Minnetonka Condos Charged for Discriminating Against Families with Kids

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Monday that it is charging a Minnetonka condominium association and its management company, Gassen Company, Inc., with violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against families with children under the age of 18.

HUD says Greenbrier Village Condominium III Association allegedly maintained a policy prohibiting families with children under 18 from living in the building. The condo's association's residency policy stated that "no apartment may be sold, leased or rented to any person who has a child under the age of 18," according to HUD.

This prevented the owner of a condo at Greenbrier Village, located on Cedar Lake Road near , from leasing the unit to several families with children, including a couple on whose behalf the charge was issued.   

The Fair Housing Act, a federal law that protects civil rights in housing, prohibits housing providers from denying housing to families with children under the age of 18, unless they meet the federal standards to be considered senior housing.

"Condo associations that don't meet federal requirements as housing for older persons don't have the right to turn away families with children," said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD will continue to take action against homeowners associations that violate the Fair Housing Act by imposing restrictive residency policies."

HUD's charge will be heard by a United States Administrative Law Judge, unless any party to the charge elects to have the case heard in federal district court.

If an administrative law judge finds after a hearing that discrimination has occurred, the judge may award damages to those persons injured by the discrimination. 

In addition, the judge may impose a penalty of up to $16,000 to vindicate the public interest and may also order injunctive and other equitable relief to deter further discrimination, as well as payment of attorney fees. If the matter is decided in federal court, the judge may also award punitive damages to aggrieved persons.

A call to Eden Prairie-based Gassen Company, Inc. by Minetonka Patch was not returned Monday afternoon.

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