On March 9, 2021, Relman Colfax filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a large San Antonio, Texas housing development and management company discriminates against low-income tenants with disabilities who need reasonable modifications to use and enjoy their apartments. The litigation—brought on behalf of the Fair Housing Council of Greater San Antonio—alleges that HomeSpring Residential Services and affiliated companies violate the Fair Housing Act and other federal and state fair housing laws by refusing to honor contractual obligations to approve and pay for such modifications.
The Council’s federal complaint describes how defendants have failed to provide and pay for disability-related reasonable modifications, such as grab bars in the bathroom or lower peepholes and closet rods; failed to properly engage with tenants who request reasonable modifications; and has made tenants provide unnecessary documentation about their disabilities and need for modifications. These policies have created dangerous conditions for tenants with disabilities and kept them from being able to use all aspects of their homes.
By way of relief, the Council seeks damages and a court order requiring defendants to bring their polices into compliance with the fair housing laws and to ensure that future tenants are not subjected to similar discrimination. A copy of the complaint is available here.
The Relman Colfax case team includes Reed Colfax, Lila Miller, and Soohyun Choi, with paralegal assistance from Olivia Fritz.