For example, if a landlord or other housing provider only rented to light-skinned African Americans, but not those who are darker-skinned, that would be an example of color discrimination, regardless of the race of the landlord. An individual with a disability, who is also otherwise qualified for the program, service or activity, is covered under Section 504. The Fair Housing Act is a broad legislative plan designed to eliminate all traces of discrimination within the housing field. Gainesville, FL 32601. If a Determination of Reasonable Cause and a Charge of Discrimination has been issued, and neither you nor the party you filed against chose to have a federal civil trial within 20 days of receiving notice of the determination, your case will be heard by a HUD Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). We represent individuals and families who have been wrongfully discriminated against in their search for temporary or permanent housing. To speak with a seasoned Florida Fair Housing lawyer today about your situation, schedule a free legal consultation bycompleting a contact formor call (844)-JIBRAEL. Be sure to include any names of those involved, along with the date, time, and location of each occurrence. The Florida Fair Housing Act does not provide new protected traits. The Fair Housing attorneys atThe Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindican help you navigate all housing laws in South Florida. I ignored him. Please fax or mail the completed questionnaire to the Office of Customer Service (fax and address are listed on the last page of the questionnaire). If HUD determines that housing discrimination has occurred, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division can bring the case to Federal Court. Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. Copyright 1999-2023 LegalMatch. That may include talking with witnesses, as well as using the court system to compel the production of evidence from the discriminatory party. Should I hire a lawyer to help me secure housing in Florida? Housing Discrimination This Firm represents numerous individuals who have been subjected to housing discrimination due to their race, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion, family status, gender identity, age, and source of income. I came home one day and found him naked in my bed. When you retain us, we get to work investigating the discrimination and obtaining the evidence needed to prove it. Attorneys 58; Law Firms 57; Articles 0; 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. Please call 404-633-5114 or contact us online for a free consultation at our Atlanta office. 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 Represented the co-founder of Nest in its purchase by Google. It is illegal for housing providers to discriminate against you based on your familial status, including denying you housing or a mortgage. Depending on your situation, you may be protected under the sex discrimination laws of the Fair Housing Act. Represented individuals who have been discriminated against in Fair Housing cases. to request a review. race), or, for example, a racially restrictive covenant contained in a real estate deed or contract. to ensure your inquiries is thoroughly investigated. 233 Broadway, Suite 820 Make sure to contact a capable attorney with experience handling discrimination claims, such as a civil rights attorney. 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). That includes any direct evidence from the discriminatory party or anything more indirect that shows you were treated differently. HUD decides that your local agency no longer meets the requirements for HUD certification. You have two years from the date of the alleged discrimination to file a civil suit. 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. Illinois law goes further. It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, color, national origin, gender, handicap, familial status, or religion: Our office has also successfully sued for discrimination based on the past criminal history of prospective tenants and for discrimination based on source of income. Courts typically look at how long an individual intends to stay at a hotel or other temporary place of lodging and have been more willing to extend FHA protection to extended-stay hotels and seasonal dwellings. Advertisers and mortgage lenders can also be held liable for engaging in discriminatory practices related to housing. History of the Florida Commission on Human Relations. People with disabilities must be allowed, at their own expense, to make reasonable modifications to their dwelling to allow them equal access and enjoyment. mirrors the federal Fair Housing Act and is enforced by the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) which investigates housing discrimination complaints for the state of Florida. In late June, Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced House Resolution 6220, which if passed, would restore a number of fair housing protections that were eliminated by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over the last two years. Monadnock Building HUD will send you a written report notifying you of its findings once the investigation is over. Sex discrimination laws can also protect: Protections for persons who experienced or are currently experiencing sexual harassment. There are circumstances in which you may want to contact HUD directly, such as if you are having difficulty finding an appropriate local housing agency or the housing agency you contacted is being unresponsive. 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 choice must be made. 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. is when a housing provider creates a threatening or uncomfortable environment because of unwanted sexual behavior. Lea Galigani. The Federal Fair Housing Act makes housing discrimination in the rental, sale, financing, or insuring of housing or housing-related services illegal if the discrimination is based on race, national origin, color, sex or gender, disability, religion, and familial status (presence of children under the age of 18). Represented numerous women concerning gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. A landlord cannot include provisions that prohibit a prospective tenant from having any children as a condition of renting an apartment. This is called a Letter of Findings. If you, or the party you filed the complaint against, disagree with the information presented in the Letter of Findings you have 30 days to request a review. Upon its passing, its central objective was to prohibit race discrimination in the sales and renting of housing. advocates on behalf of Georgia landlords who have been accused of discrimination in a housing matter. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in housing and need legal advice or assistance. } TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION BETWEEN POTTER HANDY LLP AND YOU IS NOT INTENDED TO, AND WILL NOT CREATE, AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POTTER HANDY LLP AND YOU. It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion: Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, rental or sale, Impose different conditions or terms on a loan, Threaten, coerce or intimidate any individual exercising a fair housing right, Refuse reasonable changes to your dwelling to accommodate a disability, (Under Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes and the federal and Florida Fair Housing Act). External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Both acts allow you to file a housing discrimination complaint through HUD or through a local enforcement agency like the FCHR within. However, additional protections may be available based on the county you live in. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. Public accommodations at housing developments include any public areas that are open to the general public, such as a rental office. from Golden Gate University School of Law, and a B.S. 53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 334 If you believe you are being discriminated against for renting or buying a home in Florida, its essential to write down detailed notes to keep track of everything thats happened. An email option will be added soon. Create a journal of your housing discrimination experience. Discriminatory landowners and others have developed numerous ways to attempt to deny fair housing to others. Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. Does the Fair Housing Act apply to hotels or other properties besides rental properties? This can include refusing to rent or sell to someone, or treating someone differently, because of their gender. The property owner and/or property management company could be found liable. The person or organization you filed the complaint against will be notified and have an opportunity to respond. Currently, the FHA prohibits housing discrimination based on color, race, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. However, it is often unreported. refers to the country of a persons birth or where their ancestors were born, as well as their ethnicity, culture, and language. My track record of success, in-depth knowledge of the law, and extensive experience speak for themselves, but what truly sets me apart is my dedication to my clients. The Fair Housing Act prohibits a broad range of discriminatory activities and statements. In such cases, both the broker and the contractor would be engaging in discriminatory behavior; A landlord advertising an apartment for sale and confirms with an inquiring couple, on the phone, that the unit is available.