The Florida Fair Housing Act does not provide new protected traits. Construction Accidents: Protecting Your Rights and Seeking Compensation, Wrongful Death: A Tragedy Made Worse by Legal Complexities, The Process of Receiving a Settlement Check in Chicago. 727-291-1900. If you are the victim of prohibited discrimination, you may file a complaint with your state's fair housing agency, local Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), or HUD three different ways:. Click Here To Access The Intake Form For Your Misclassification Claims. Here are some more examples of discrimination that you may encounter when trying to rent or purchase housing: You are told there are no pets allowed when you have a service animal, A landlord tells you one thing on the phone but changes the previous terms, pricing, or availability upon seeing you in person, A landlord refuses to provide you necessary parking accommodations, A landlord refuses to accept a voucher, like Section 8, to pay your rent, A landlord falsely denies that housing is available for rent or sale, You are told you are unable to make physical changes to your unit to accommodate your disability, The landlord tells you that kids are not welcome in the community. The Florida Fair Housing Act does not provide new protected traits. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of: Race Color National Origin Religion Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation) Familial Status Disability What Types of Housing Are Covered? .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-10-wrap .nf-field-element .ninja-forms-field { Contact me. Gather any documents you received related to your housing (such as denial letters if you had applied to an apartment and got rejected), any notices you received from the housing providers, leases, any documents you had sent your housing providers, applications you might have filled out, etc. You can print out a form (903.1), complete it, and drop it or mail it to: Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development Room 5204 451 Seventh St. SW Washington, DC 20410-2000 You can write us a letter with: Your name and address External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. display: none; } (844) 542-7235 South Florida's Premier Consumer Protection Law Firm "We are the civil police that monitors and modifies bad corporate behavior. You can do this on a federal or state level. University of Florida. The Florida Commission on Human Relations was created to uphold state laws offering protection from discrimination in both housing and employment. Housing discrimination Floridians are entitled by law to rent a place to live or buy a home without consideration of their national origin, race or color, sex, disability, religion or familial status. That would include demanding someone pay a higher security deposit simply because of that individuals race. Don't wait to talk to a discrimination attorney and find out how federal law and state law can be used to hold those who discriminated against you accountable. State law prohibits discrimination by sellers, landlords and those who provide housing-related services. Leave a review. The attorney can assist you with: Writing, evidencing, and filing your Fair Housing complaint; Assist in the negotiation of a settlement or resolution HUD-Funded Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) Partnership Initiative An individual who believes they have experienced housing discrimination may contact one of these FHAP agencies or the US Department of Health & Human Services (HUD). Next, they will determine whether there is enough evidence to establish that a violation did indeed occur. Miami, If you have questions or concerns over whether you were unfairly treated, reach out to us. As a tenant, you have the right to be free from sexual harassment in your housing. Please contact us for legal assistance with that information at, If you live in HUD-assisted housing such as public housing, project based section 8 housing, Section 202 and 811 supportive housing for the elderly and people with disabilities, and are experiencing domestic violence, you have options that will help you to keep your housing or allow you to move for safety reasons. Often victims of sexual harassment suffer both. Click here to see a state-by-state list of HUDs Substantially Equivalent Agencies here. Section 504 covers all programs and activities of recipients of HUD financial assistance, including, for example: Federal law makes it illegal for an otherwise qualified individual with a disability, solely because of his or her disability, to be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Both acts allow you to file a housing discrimination complaint through HUD or through a local enforcement agency like the FCHR within 1 year of when the last act of discrimination occurred. THE INFORMATION AND CONTENT CONTAINED ON THIS SITE IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE, AND YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY BEFORE RELYING ON ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR CONTENT. POTTER HANDY LLP DOES NOT AGREE TO ACCEPT AND/OR MAINTAIN THE SECRECY OF ANY UNSOLICITED INFORMATION YOU SEND TO US UNLESS AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP CURRENTLY EXISTS BETWEEN US. The Fair Housing Act does not protect those who use drugs illegally, only people who have successfully completed a treatment program are covered under the law (as described by the. While the process described below applies to HUD investigations, you can reasonably expect a somewhat similar procedure from your HUD-certified local agency. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has a simpler breakdown of the Federal Fair Housing Act and its protections: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview. What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle? If you have experienced any of these scenarios, or you feel as though youve been a victim of disability discrimination when trying to secure housing, reach out to me today. #nf-form-2-cont .nf-row { Orlando, FL Discrimination Attorneys . According to the Commission's 2009-2010 Annual Report, over 74 percent of the cases investigated were for discrimination in employment. Actions such as denying you housing or a mortgage, denying a reasonable accommodation or modification request, or not providing accessible units for multi-family homes built after 1991 are considered discriminatory when based upon an individuals disability. If you believe you were a victim of housing discrimination, you have a right to file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD. The Commission will work with the United States Department of Housing (HUD). & Florida Commission on Human Relations, 4075 Esplanade Way Unit 110, Tallahassee, FL, 32399. Examples like these are relatively rare. To file a complaint or learn more about the process, go to HUDs File a Complaint page here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint. margin:auto; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. We also represent fair housing organizations who are seeking to remedy discrimination. Examples of dissemination of false information include incorrectly stating that there are no units available, or suggesting that people who are looking to buy in one area instead buy in another based on their race. The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. Misclassified Clinical Research Associates, Intake Form for Misclassified Rideshare Driver Clients, Click Here To Access The Intake Form For Your Misclassification Claims. The topics below will walk you through what housing discrimination is, what laws protect you, how to avoid taking part in it, how to proceed if you are the victim, and how this all affects the lending process. Should I hire a lawyer to help me secure housing in Florida? The maintenance person wont fix anything in my apartment unless I have sex with them. Discrimination in the United States can arise in many settings and involve a wide range of issues, including: Use FindLaw's attorney directory to find a local discrimination lawyer to ensure you are treated equally and that you receive the protection you are granted by anti-discrimination laws. As tenant discrimination claims are received, our practice attorneys carefully evaluate the allegations, speak with appropriate client personnel and frequently conduct on-site investigations before devising a defense strategy. Law, Employment of the date you received notice of the determination. For example, housing covered by Title II of the ADA includes housing operated by public housing agencies that meet the ADAs definition of public entity, and housing operated by States or units of local government, such as housing on a State university campus. The more common method of proving housing discrimination is by indirect evidence. Discrimination in housing is against the law. Unless a housing community is complying with the requirements of a 55+ housing community, they cannot deny a family with children under the age of 18 from residing there. How do I know if being denied a home loan is due to discrimination? You can call this attorney to schedule your free initial consultation and make an appointment at 1200 S Pine Island Rd Ste 750, Plantation, FL. Additionally, you have 2 years to file a complaint in federal court from the last act of discrimination. Who Can File? The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits housing and housing-related discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, or disability. If you believe that youve experienced discrimination while renting or buying a home in South Florida, contact an experienced Florida Fair Housing lawyer who can help defend your best interests. This extends to other housing related activities including the dissemination of false information about the availability of housing. display: none; } 60604 Prior to joining LegalMatch, Ken practiced Law for four years in San Francisco, California, handling a wide range of cases in areas as diverse as Family Law (divorces, child custody and support, restraining orders, paternity), Real Estate (property ownership, landlord/tenant disputes for residential and commercial property), Criminal Law (misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile, traffic infractions), Personal Injury (automobile accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall), Entertainment (recording contracts, copyright and trademark registration, licensing agreements), Employment Law (wage claims, discrimination, sexual harassment), Commercial Law and Contracts (breach of contract, drafting contracts), and San Francisco Bankruptcy (chapter 7 personal bankruptcies). Please try again. An individual with a disability, who is also otherwise qualified for the program, service or activity, is covered under Section 504. of when the last act of discrimination occurred. I believe I may have been discriminated against when applying for housing in Florida. Call the HUD case managers toll-free (800) 669-9777 or TTY (800) 927-9275.You can also follow this link for a HUD directory. You have two years from the date of the alleged discrimination to file a civil suit. Please tell us why this information wasn't useful. Unlike discrimination against some of the other protected classes, racial discrimination in the housing industry is not always easy to spot. At Florin Gray Bouzas Owens, our legal team is dedicated to the pursuit of justice for our clients. The Office of Management Information Systems and The Public Information Office, manages this site as a portal for information from the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Sue for Rental Housing Discrimination. Once the investigation is complete, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will notify you of one of two possible outcomes: If a Determination of Reasonable Cause and a Charge of Discrimination has been issued, either you or the party you filed against can choose to have your case heard by a Federal Distric Court judge. your case, Landlord Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawyers, The Fair Housing Act and Other Fair Housing Laws in California. Outreach and public contact, including contact with program applicants and participants. It is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against you based on your familial status, including denying you housing or a mortgage. Ken joined LegalMatch in January 2002. I said no and he evicted me. Find a local Orlando, Florida Discrimination attorney near you. It would similarly be illegal to prohibit someone who is pregnant from renting. The Justice Department announced today that Thomas Mere, the owner and operator of Mere's Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park in North Fort Myers, Florida, has agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against African Americans in violation of the Fair Housing Act. is a request to your housing provider in order to change rules, policies, practices, or services so that a person with a disability will have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their home or common space. If you think that you have been denied fair housing rights, then take the initiative and talk to a civil rights attorney about your situation. Florida Housing Discrimination Lawyers Lawrina / Lawyers / Housing Discrimination / Florida Jennifer Mantoni Florida, Maryland Arbitration & Mediation Construction Law Elder Law +4 Claim Profile Frederick A. Neustein Florida Appeals & Appellate Bankruptcy Business Law +4 Claim Profile Charles McClenaghan Esq Florida, Ohio Business Law Fair housing is the right to buy or rent a home, free from illegal discrimination. When I fell behind on rent, he said there was another way I could pay. Upon its passing, its central objective was to prohibit race discrimination in the sales and renting of housing. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides that no qualified individual with disabilities should, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. When you seek our counsel, you will not pay for representation since we receive our fees from the defendants in your case. 53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 334 IL AS A RESULT, YOU SHOULD NOT TRANSMIT ANY CONFIDENTIAL OR SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO US UNTIL A FORMAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.