MCAD Complaints Against Landlords

MCAD complaints against landlords generally occur when a prospective, prior, or current tenant accuses a landlord of housing discrimination. When faced with such a claim, landlords need to act promptly and diligently in responding to such charges.

What is MCAD?

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD”) is a state agency that handles discrimination claims, including those concerning housing.

MCAD is not a court, but functions in a similar manner, and has the power to issue decisions and award damages for violations under the law. For this reason, MCAD complaints against landlords are just as serious as any court case.

MCAD complaints against landlords begin with a notice that a claimant has filed a claim of discrimination against the landlord, which is followed by an investigation and determination on whether the tenant has a viable claim. MCAD will then see if a settlement can be reached. If a resolution is not possible, the matter will proceed to a hearing, in a manner similar to a trial.

Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination is prohibited under federal and state law, and is a serious offense. Housing discrimination law prohibits a landlord from treating a tenant differently based on a protected classification, such as race or gender.

How to Handle a Housing Discrimination Claim in MCAD

When faced with a housing discrimination claim from MCAD, landlords must act promptly. Such a claim generally requires a landlord to respond by submitting a position statement, where the landlord gives their side of the story. Do not ignore a MCAD notice!

Compared to a court, MCAD is intended to be more “user” friendly, and it is not uncommon for tenants and landlords to represent themselves. However, given that MCAD functions nearly the same as a court, landlords should strongly consider hiring an attorney to represent them in such a proceeding. This is especially true given the many complexities of most housing discrimination cases.

Conclusion

As with any other legal proceeding, an MCAD complaint needs to be addressed timely and properly. If you need assistance with such a matter, contact me for a consultation.