The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people out of work and many people out of their homes. As eviction moratoriums expire, reports of sexual harassment of vulnerable tenants by unscrupulous landlords have increased, including landlords demanding sex from tenants who can no longer afford their rent.
A recent survey conducted by the National Fair Housing Alliance of over 100 fair housing groups found more than 13% so far had seen upticks in sexual harassment complaints during the pandemic.
Though many states and municipalities have issued moratoria on evictions while the pandemic is ongoing, that doesn’t mean bad actors won’t still seek to exploit vulnerable tenants. According to David Mitchell of Detroit Eviction Defense, the fact that some tenants can’t pay may lead some landlords to harassment.
“It’s a power relationship, and they usually have power to do whatever they want,” said Mitchell. “Because that’s been limited, increasingly they’re wanting to be in a position of power, at least in some area of it.”
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf recently extended the statewide eviction and foreclosure moratorium to August 31.
As the moratoria come to an end, some landlords may take advantage of the situation and threaten eviction unless tenants give in to their sexual demands. The problems are likely to be widespread, as experts estimate 28 million people across the country, or 22.5% of all households, will be at risk of eviction.
Sexual harassment in housing does not only come from landlords, but can also come from maintenance workers and groundskeepers, security guards, loan officers, and other employees and representatives of rental property owners.
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. Sexual harassment is one of the forms of discrimination prohibited by the Act. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act also prohibits housing discrimination at the state level.
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice enforces the Fair Housing Act, and they have recently ramped up a nationwide initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing.
Being safe and secure in your housing is more important than ever. Threats and demands of a sexual nature from your landlord violate that safety and security, and they violate your rights.
While our physical offices remain closed, our in-house Telephone Counseling & Referral Service is open and we are ready to assist you with any concerns you have about inappropriate requests or demands your landlord or anyone else is making regarding your housing status. Call us at 215-928-9801 x 5760.
This information is available in Spanish here.
Author: WLP Legal Intern Tyler Gillett
The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond.
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