This is the law in Massachusetts:
Quote:
Unlawful discrimination against a Section 8 applicant:
- “Income isn’t 3x rent.” (The program ensures a 3x rent ratio.)
Article:
https://masslandlords.net/laws/section-8/
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I applied for at the property's website yesterday morning. There is an available apartment for which my Section 8 voucher can pay the rent. I paid the $500 security deposit from my bank account, using most of the cash that I have for the entire month. Because I paid that deposit, there are bills that I will have to pay using credit cards this month, lowering my credit score.
When I paid the security deposit, I also sent an email saying that I have a Section 8 voucher.
The security deposit only holds the apartment for 2 days.
The property management ignored my email from yesterday. It ignored my email from today. It did nothing in response to my contacting the virtual chat agent at the property's website to ask why I wasn't being contacted.
I finally went to the office in person. I used the callbox to alert the office that I was outside. It went to voicemail, even though I was there before the office closes for the day. The concierge saw me and let me into the building. I told him that I had applied for an apartment and had tried to contact the office and had received no answer. He went into the office and talked to the property manager. He then came out and said "She's really busy."
She then came out, smiling, and said "My entire staff called out today and I've had no time to do anything." She invited me into the office and offered me water, which I declined. Then she said "Your income has to be 3x the rent." I said "But I have a Section 8 voucher." She said "It is our policy that your income has to be 3x the rent." I said "But that policy is just there to ensure that applicants have the ability to pay the rent. My rent is guaranteed; Section 8 is guaranteed rent, and the apartment that I applied for meets the payments standards for my voucher."
She said "We have an affordable housing program; do you want me to put you on the waitlist for that?"
I said "I have to use my voucher in the next two weeks. Also, I'm supposed to be able to apply for this apartment. I can pay for it."
She said "Every company that I have ever worked for has had the same policy. Your income has to be 3x the rent."
I already knew that wasn't true; in the past few weeks, I have talked to the property managers for two other properties that are owned by the same business. Neither of them said anything like "Your income has to be 3x the rent." One of them didn't have apartments in my price range, and the other one said "We can take Section 8 if it covers the full amount" and also didn't have apartments in my price range. The second property manager referred me to this building, which now has possession of $500 from me.
The property manager for this building also said these things:
"It was right there in the application that you signed online that your income has to be 3x the rent. You should have read what you signed."
"It would be discriminatory for me to let you in. We have to apply the same rules to everyone."
"I know all about the fair housing laws. I teach them to other people."
I said "How long will it take for you to refund my $500?"
She said "I can try to expedite it; about 2 weeks."
I said "So I won't be able to use that money to apply anywhere else for that amount of time."
I left and contacted the website's virtual chat agent, who told me "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. You'll have to contact the onsite office to file a complaint." I said "The onsite office is what did this."
_____________________________________________
I applied for at the property's website yesterday morning. There is an available apartment for which my Section 8 voucher can pay the rent. I paid the $500 security deposit from my bank account, using most of the cash that I have for the entire month. Because I paid that deposit, there are bills that I will have to pay using credit cards this month, lowering my credit score.
When I paid the security deposit, I also sent an email saying that I have a Section 8 voucher.
The security deposit only holds the apartment for 2 days.
The property management ignored my email from yesterday. It ignored my email from today. It did nothing in response to my contacting the virtual chat agent at the property's website to ask why I wasn't being contacted.
I finally went to the office in person. I used the callbox to alert the office that I was outside. It went to voicemail, even though I was there before the office closes for the day. The concierge saw me and let me into the building. I told him that I had applied for an apartment and had tried to contact the office and had received no answer. He went into the office and talked to the property manager. He then came out and said "She's really busy."
She then came out, smiling, and said "My entire staff called out today and I've had no time to do anything." She invited me into the office and offered me water, which I declined. Then she said "Your income has to be 3x the rent." I said "But I have a Section 8 voucher." She said "It is our policy that your income has to be 3x the rent." I said "But that policy is just there to ensure that applicants have the ability to pay the rent. My rent is guaranteed; Section 8 is guaranteed rent, and the apartment that I applied for meets the payments standards for my voucher."
She said "We have an affordable housing program; do you want me to put you on the waitlist for that?"
I said "I have to use my voucher in the next two weeks. Also, I'm supposed to be able to apply for this apartment. I can pay for it."
She said "Every company that I have ever worked for has had the same policy. Your income has to be 3x the rent."
I already knew that wasn't true; in the past few weeks, I have talked to the property managers for two other properties that are owned by the same business. Neither of them said anything like "Your income has to be 3x the rent." One of them didn't have apartments in my price range, and the other one said "We can take Section 8 if it covers the full amount" and also didn't have apartments in my price range. The second property manager referred me to this building, which now has possession of $500 from me.
The property manager for this building also said these things:
"It was right there in the application that you signed online that your income has to be 3x the rent. You should have read what you signed."
"It would be discriminatory for me to let you in. We have to apply the same rules to everyone."
"I know all about the fair housing laws. I teach them to other people."
I said "How long will it take for you to refund my $500?"
She said "I can try to expedite it; about 2 weeks."
I said "So I won't be able to use that money to apply anywhere else for that amount of time."
I left and contacted the website's virtual chat agent, who told me "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. You'll have to contact the onsite office to file a complaint." I said "The onsite office is what did this."
