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I'm a 61 year old male on Social Security Disability who has recently received a Housing Choice Voucher for a one bedroom apartment.
The last few months of looking for a decent place to live has been an exercise in futility. Either the place is a worse dump then where I presently live or it's bigger than one bedroom.
On 09/01/10 I emailed the head of a local housing agency explaining my situation. I received a reply that there were no available units in the property they controlled, however, the apt manager called and e-mailed me to inform me of an available one bedroom apt in another building (co-op) that she managed.
During our phone conversation she asked me if I've ever been arrested or convicted. I told her yes to both questions (never convicted of a felony) and also added that I had filed for bankruptcy sometime in 2004.
The arrests were in 1979, 1980 and 1988.
I went over to meet the building manager and two of the head members of the co-op. The interview was very short. I even brought a copy of my 2010 credit report listing the bankruptcy, along with my voucher.
She told me there was nothing to worry about and gave me an application to fill out. She also informed me that there would be a $45.00 application fee. This was on 09/06/10.
On 09/09/10 She picked up my application, money order, and family packet (voucher forms to be filled out by the landlord) telling me she would contact me the following Tuesday with an answer.
Tuesday 09/14/10 came and went. I thought she might be behind schedule or something else had prevented her from contacting me.
I then called her work numbers and personal cell phone number (which she freely gave me) I left messages asking if she was OK and could she please call me back ASAP with an answer.
I heard nothing.
On 09/23/10 I emailed her a letter asking if she was OK and essentially reviewing what I'm posting here. The next morning my phone rang with the ID of the co-op. However, after 4 rings no message was left.
I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, however, I think it's safe to say that the co-op board found my application lacking.
Aside from receiving no answer, it's her extreme unprofessional approach to the issue and lack of an answer that I find troubling and callous. I'm writing a letter to her agency to bring this issue up.
Here's my question:
Don't they have to notify me that I wasn't accepted and give me a reason why, including access to any reports they obtained with my $45.00 fee.
My voucher is due to expire on 10/23/10. I have to ask for a 30 day extension within the next week or so.
I would like to have whatever information that they obtained on me so I can know why I was rejected.
I'm in the process of contacting HUD and a local legal aid office that deals with housing issues.
It looks like I've wasted almost an entire month with waiting to hear about the apt.
What legal recourse do I have.
Thanking everybody in advance for your help on my behalf.
If anyone knows where I can find a one bedroom apt. in a house or building in Philadelphia please let me know.
The only rules I'm aware of for rejection reasons are the fair credit act. If you gave them permission to pull your credit, and they pulled your credit, they must notify you of the reason, and then you have to right to request a free credit report from the agencies. If they rejected you for a reason other than credit, the rules are a little murky. Most places will send you a rejection form with the reason listed anyway, to comply with the credit check rules.
You have a complicated case though, so I think the local legal aid people are your best bet.
Also, since you don't have a definitive answer yet, it's possible they will still accept you! Or they may simply have not sent the rejection letter yet.
coops can be a pain for rentals, at least in NY.
While coops boards must abide by discrimination laws, they can otherwise reject anyone, and are not required to give a reason
I'm a 61 year old male on Social Security Disability who has recently received a Housing Choice Voucher for a one bedroom apartment.
The last few months of looking for a decent place to live has been an exercise in futility. Either the place is a worse dump then where I presently live or it's bigger than one bedroom.
On 09/01/10 I emailed the head of a local housing agency explaining my situation. I received a reply that there were no available units in the property they controlled, however, the apt manager called and e-mailed me to inform me of an available one bedroom apt in another building (co-op) that she managed.
During our phone conversation she asked me if I've ever been arrested or convicted. I told her yes to both questions (never convicted of a felony) and also added that I had filed for bankruptcy sometime in 2004.
The arrests were in 1979, 1980 and 1988.
I went over to meet the building manager and two of the head members of the co-op. The interview was very short. I even brought a copy of my 2010 credit report listing the bankruptcy, along with my voucher.
She told me there was nothing to worry about and gave me an application to fill out. She also informed me that there would be a $45.00 application fee. This was on 09/06/10.
On 09/09/10 She picked up my application, money order, and family packet (voucher forms to be filled out by the landlord) telling me she would contact me the following Tuesday with an answer.
Tuesday 09/14/10 came and went. I thought she might be behind schedule or something else had prevented her from contacting me.
I then called her work numbers and personal cell phone number (which she freely gave me) I left messages asking if she was OK and could she please call me back ASAP with an answer.
I heard nothing.
On 09/23/10 I emailed her a letter asking if she was OK and essentially reviewing what I'm posting here. The next morning my phone rang with the ID of the co-op. However, after 4 rings no message was left.
I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, however, I think it's safe to say that the co-op board found my application lacking.
Aside from receiving no answer, it's her extreme unprofessional approach to the issue and lack of an answer that I find troubling and callous. I'm writing a letter to her agency to bring this issue up.
Here's my question:
Don't they have to notify me that I wasn't accepted and give me a reason why, including access to any reports they obtained with my $45.00 fee.
My voucher is due to expire on 10/23/10. I have to ask for a 30 day extension within the next week or so.
I would like to have whatever information that they obtained on me so I can know why I was rejected.
I'm in the process of contacting HUD and a local legal aid office that deals with housing issues.
It looks like I've wasted almost an entire month with waiting to hear about the apt.
What legal recourse do I have.
Thanking everybody in advance for your help on my behalf.
If anyone knows where I can find a one bedroom apt. in a house or building in Philadelphia please let me know.
Call Obama. You sound like one of his constituents.
The only legal help I'm asking for is an answer as to why I was turned down. I want the name of the agency they ran my background check on. That's something they have to provide along with me being able to access my credit report because the checked it as part of the application process.
You shouldn't be so presumptuous as to think you know that I'm looking to sue.
The only legal help I'm asking for is an answer as to why I was turned down. I want the name of the agency they ran my background check on. That's something they have to provide along with me being able to access my credit report because the checked it as part of the application process.
You shouldn't be so presumptuous as to think you know that I'm looking to sue.
Thanks for the help F. Lee Baily.
You asked what your "legal recourse" and "legal rights" were regarding the situation.
Seriously, they (probably) declined your application. Move on. Do you really want to force them to rent to you and just have to move in a year?
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