A Melrose landlord and property manager have been ordered to pay more than $38,000 in a housing discrimination case spurred by a Craigslist ad that stated they would not rent a unit to a family with children. 

Landlord Nicholas Keramaris and MT. V.M. Realty Trust – the owner of a 20-unit rental property in Melrose – were found to have violated both the state anti-discrimination law and consumer protection law by posting an advertisement on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org stating that an apartment "is not deleaded, therefore it cannot be rented to families with children under six years old."

"Massachusetts law is very clear – landlords cannot avoid their obligations under the state’s lead paint laws by refusing to rent to families with young children," Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. "This judgment demonstrates that there are serious consequences for violating anti-discrimination laws."

In 2010, the AG’s Office filed a complaint against Keramaris and MT. V.M., alleging that their advertisements were discriminatory against families with young children. Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to refuse to rent or steer families away from rental properties because they have young children whose presence triggers an owner’s duty to eliminate lead hazards that pose serious health risks.

Suffolk Superior Court ordered Keramaris and MT. V.M. to pay a civil penalty of $10,000, and more than $28,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs. They have also been ordered to cease posting discriminatory advertisements, and to delead the next two-bedroom apartment in the building that becomes available for rent that is not yet deleaded. Additionally, both Nicholas Keramaris and George Keramaris, the trustee, are required to attend fair housing training.

The case was prosecuted by Jonathan B. Miller, chief of AG’s Civil Rights Division, with assistance from Andrew Koster, an assistant attorney general in the Trial Division.