Politics

Justice Department Investigating Landlord Sexual Harassment Allegations Nationwide

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Dec 17, 2025

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The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating more than a dozen cases of alleged sexual harassment by landlords against their tenants. According to one summary, these investigations are part of the DOJ's Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative, which was established in 2017. Since the initiative began, at least 52 similar federal lawsuits have reportedly been filed against landlords, with 14 federal civil cases currently pending.

As part of this effort, the Justice Department recently filed a civil lawsuit in Michigan against landlord William Asper, alleging violations of the federal Fair Housing Act. In a court filing, government attorneys alleged Asper sought sexual favors from tenants, threatening them with eviction or withholding repairs. The filing claimed that in one instance, Asper told a tenant there were "different ways" to pay rent and touched her without consent.

In a statement, Asper denied the accusations. He claimed the women wanted to be his "girlfriend" and were creating excuses for not paying rent. A formal response to the allegations from Asper had not yet been posted in court, according to one summary.

An assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet Dhillon, was cited as calling such harassment traumatic for victims and illegal under the Fair Housing Act. A spokesperson for the National Fair Housing Alliance stated that sexual harassment in housing is likely underreported because victims may fear retaliation or eviction. The Justice Department has reportedly secured approximately $1.5 million in damages for victims since January.

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• The landlord named in the lawsuit has denied the government's allegations. In a statement, landlord William Asper denied the accusations of sexual harassment that were detailed in the Justice Department's civil lawsuit against him. A formal response to the allegations from Asper had not yet been posted in court, according to a summary of the case.

• The landlord claims the tenants had romantic intentions. Asper offered an alternative explanation for his interactions with the tenants who made the allegations. He claimed in a statement that the women involved wanted to be his "girlfriend."

• The landlord suggests the accusations are a pretext for unpaid rent. In his denial, Asper connected the allegations to financial issues with his tenants. He stated that the women were creating excuses for not paying their rent, implying a monetary motive behind their claims against him.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The Justice Department's initiative provides a federal channel for tenants to report sexual harassment, potentially increasing legal protections and lawsuits against landlords nationwide.

• Landlords may face greater legal scrutiny over tenant interactions as the government actively pursues civil lawsuits for alleged violations of the federal Fair Housing Act.

• Tenants who experience harassment may be eligible for financial compensation, as the DOJ has reportedly secured approximately $1.5 million in damages for victims since January.

• These cases may affect landlord-tenant disputes over rent or repairs, as allegations link harassment to threats of eviction or the withholding of necessary maintenance.

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