Major owner of seniors housing sued for disregarding rights of disabled
LONDON: The courts are increasingly having to be used to enforce reasonable living standards upon developers and owners.
CNY Fair Housing Inc. is taking legal action against a major owner of housing for seniors in the Syracuse area, Upstate New York and several other states.
The lawsuit is filed in the U. S. District Court for the Northern District alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act.
CNY Fair Housing, three residents of Camillus Pointe Senior apartments and several other regional housing authorities claim Clover denied residents with disabilities reserved or designated parking spaces near the rental units. The suit also alleges Clover demanded a few of up to $350 for a designated space.
The court documents claim the denial of the parking spaces has a particularly harsh impact on residents with mobility disabilities. Clover is also accused of adding surcharges to monthly rent for units with accessible features such as grab bars and units near elevators.
CNY Fair Housing states: “Defendants policies contravene fair housing laws and are directly contrary to Defendants’ marketing statement that it seed to ensure that seniors ‘have affordable living options that provide unmatched safety and opportunities for fulfillment. ‘
“For years, these companies have disregarded and profited from the needs of residents with disabilities,” said CNY Fair Housing’s Executive Director, Sally Santangelo in a released statement.
The suit asks the court to force Clover to stop the current practices and award compensatory and punitive damages.
Clover owns Camillus Senior Pointe apartments in addition to Buckley Square Senior Apartments and Morgan Square Senior Apartments located in Clay.
