Practice Area 03 / 04
Fair Housing Act
Landlord-tenant disputes, housing discrimination, reasonable accommodation, and FHA claims. Housing matters are inherently personal — a careful neutral can restore dignity on both sides of the dispute.
Why Fair Housing ADR
Housing disputes resolved with dignity and fairness.
Fair housing disputes are uniquely personal. They involve where people live — their homes, their neighborhoods, their sense of safety and belonging. These matters demand a neutral who understands both the legal framework of the Fair Housing Act and the human stakes involved.
Leslie has litigated Fair Housing Act claims in federal court and appeared before HUD and state civil-rights agencies. She has represented landlords, tenants, property managers, and municipalities — and understands the compliance pressures, business realities, and civil-rights principles that shape these disputes.
Fair housing cases are emotionally charged and often involve ongoing relationships. Good mediation can resolve the legal claim while preserving (or ending) the relationship in a way that respects both parties' dignity.
Fair Housing Matters Handled
FHA claims across eight core categories.
FHA Discrimination
Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability under the Fair Housing Act.
Reasonable Accommodation
Requests for modifications or policy exceptions to accommodate disabilities — including service animals, parking, and physical modifications.
Landlord-Tenant
Lease disputes, eviction proceedings, security-deposit claims, habitability issues, and rent-withholding matters.
HOA Disputes
Homeowners association enforcement actions, covenant disputes, architectural-review denials, and assessment conflicts.
Lease Interpretation
Ambiguity disputes, renewal-option conflicts, rent-escalation clauses, and use-restriction disagreements.
Condominium Matters
Condo-association disputes, special-assessment challenges, common-element maintenance, and unit-owner conflicts.
Disparate-Impact Claims
Policies or practices with discriminatory effect — even when facially neutral — under FHA disparate-impact theory.
Familial-Status Claims
Discrimination against families with children — occupancy limits, play-area restrictions, and housing-for-older-persons exemptions.
Leslie's Approach
"Fair housing law protects people at their most vulnerable — when they need a place to live. Good mediation honors that vulnerability and helps parties find resolutions that restore dignity and fairness."
— Leslie W. Langbein
Leslie has litigated Fair Housing Act cases in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and appeared before HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. She understands the statutory framework, the regulatory guidance, and the case law that shapes these disputes.
Her mediation style in housing matters tends to be empathetic but candid — helping parties see the legal risks, the emotional costs, and the practical benefits of settlement.
How It Works
From intake to resolution — typically within weeks.
Confidential Intake
Initial call to understand the housing dispute, parties involved, and preferred resolution path (mediation or arbitration).
Pre-Session Briefs
Position statements, lease or HOA documents, correspondence, and relevant evidence submitted by each side.
Mediation or Arbitration Session
Structured conversation (mediation) or evidentiary hearing (arbitration) — tailored to the sensitivity and complexity of the matter.
Resolution & Agreement
Settlement memorialized (mediation) or award issued (arbitration) — with attention to preserving dignity and fairness for all parties.