Virginia Realty Co. of Tidewater Inc., Norfolk, Va., paid $82,500 to settle allegations that it refused to allow a Hispanic woman to apply for an apartment because she did not speak fluent English and had a policy of not renting to people with limited English proficiency.
The company entered into two agreements in the settlement: one with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and one with the individual who brought the initial complaint.
HUD found in an investigation that the company had a written policy expressly requiring all prospective tenants to be able to communicate with the management staff in English without assistance from others.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits
