The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Danny Bell, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Somerset, Kentucky, has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act, according to an official announcement from the department. Justice Department Case Accused Landlord of Harassing Tenants for Years The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed
Hurricane season has a funny way of turning a perfectly ordinary afternoon into a frantic search for insurance paperwork, flashlights, batteries, and the phone number for an insurance agent. Before the next storm starts dominating the weather forecast, homeowners should take a close look at their insurance details, especially coverage limits, deductibles, exclusions, renewal dates, and flood protection. That little review can uncover an expensive
September has a funny way of making a perfectly respectable household budget look like it wandered into a surprise party without an invitation. Summer leaves behind more than popsicle sticks and a suspicious number of empty sunscreen bottles, because the transition into fall can also trigger home expenses that never appeared on the original plan. From heating-system maintenance to yard cleanup, these costs often arrive
Property-tax notices have a remarkable talent for looking like junk mail from the government. Unfortunately, tossing one aside can mean missing a chance to challenge an incorrect assessment, claim an exemption, correct a property record, or learn about a deadline that does not politely wait for anyone. A property-tax notice can contain far more useful information than the amount due at the bottom. It can
A backyard can look perfectly harmless on a sunny afternoon, yet the same yard can turn into a collection of flying, falling, sliding, or flooding hazards when a serious storm rolls through. Patio furniture, loose branches, decorations, grills, and even clogged drains can create problems that extend beyond the property line. That matters because storm damage does not always stop at a fence. A loose
A refinance mailer can arrive looking like it escaped from a bank’s executive office. It may feature your name, mortgage details, a bold “important notice,” a government-style seal, or language suggesting that a lower rate deserves immediate attention. The catch? Some mailers represent legitimate companies trying to win your business, while others use official-looking packaging to make a sales pitch feel more important than it
Adding a family member to a house deed can sound wonderfully simple. Maybe a parent wants to add an adult child, siblings want to share a property, or a homeowner wants another relative to have a clear ownership interest. The tricky part? A deed does more than put another name on a piece of paper. It can change who owns the property, who can make
Auto-pay promises one beautiful thing: freedom from remembering due dates. Set it once, move on with life, and let technology handle the boring stuff. That works wonderfully until one tiny oversight turns into an unpaid mortgage, a disconnected utility, or a late fee that nobody expected. The surprising part? Auto-pay rarely fails because the technology breaks. Most problems happen because people make small changes that
A home inventory can feel like one of those chores that sits quietly on the “someday” list, right beside organizing the garage and finally figuring out the mystery drawer. However, when a fire, hurricane, theft, or major storm damages a home, that simple list can become one of the most valuable tools available. Knowing what information insurers may request after a loss helps homeowners prepare
A damp basement in late summer often acts like an early warning system that you shouldn’t ignore. Fall rain has a habit of exposing small moisture problems that stayed hidden during drier weather, and a tiny damp spot today can become a soggy mess after several days of steady rain. Taking a closer look before the seasons change gives homeowners a chance to catch simple
