A rent break meant for Ukrainian families fleeing war has turned into a courtroom fight in Palo Alto, where two tenants say their landlord’s generosity to newcomers came at their expense.
Tenants Stuti Kochhar and Pavel Zheltov have sued the owners of Stellar Court Apartments, claiming they were charged different, and sometimes higher, rent terms while some Ukrainian families received free or reduced rent. The couple say they were hit with as much as $500 in extra monthly charges after moving into a larger one-bedroom to make room for their growing family. They are seeking roughly $106,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees, and the case is working its way through Santa Clara County courts.
What the lawsuit says
The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, names Stellar Court Apartments and owners Bill and Steve Reller, and says the couple live at Staller Court Apartments. According to the complaint, Kochhar and Zheltov were charged up to $500 more than other tenants and saw their rent reach $3,425 per month in October 2021. The suit claims some Ukrainian families were given free or reduced-rate units and more relaxed rules, including permission to operate unlicensed businesses out of certain apartments.
The complaint also points to a June 2022 letter in which Bill Reller allegedly offered to guarantee a year of free housing for a Ukrainian family at 345 Forest Avenue. Those details were first reported by Palo Alto Online.
Why familial status matters
At the center of the dispute is whether Kochhar and Zheltov were penalized for having a growing family. Under federal and state fair housing laws, familial status is a protected class, which means landlords cannot treat households with children differently from other tenants…