housing discrimination attorney florida

If you feel you have been denied fair treatment during the process of securing housing due to your disability, you have options. The . Make housing unavailable or deny that housing is available; Set different terms, conditions or privileges for the sale or rental of housing, a mortgage, home loan, home insurance or any other housing transaction; Threaten, coerce, or intimidate anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others in exercising those rights; and. Here are 10 big issues to watch: AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Senate President Kathleen . 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. 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. Contact me. 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. And if youve been the victim of such treatment, you have the right to demand monetary damages. Although the Fair Housing Act does not expressly protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, HUD has used sex discrimination to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community from such discrimination. The Fair Housing attorneys atThe Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindican help you navigate all housing laws in South Florida. Your message has failed. A few examples of this include credit history, income, references from past landlords, and past behavior, such as damaging property. If youve been discriminated against because of disability, race or other protected characteristic, while trying to secure housing in the state of Florida, reach out to me today in Miami, Florida to start fighting back. Public accommodations at housing developments include any public areas that are open to the general public, such as a rental office. Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, rental or sale. For example, if a landlord suggests an apartment that would be a better fit for you, their actions may be discriminatory. 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. Theresa Kitay, a fair housing defense attorney based in North Carolina, says three of her clients sued by FFHA paid between $2,000 and $6,500 to settle them. Familial status means having children under age 18 in the household. Evicting families from an apartment or mobile home park because it wants to change to a senior-only apartment or mobile home park. Click here. If you believe you have been discriminated against when applying for housing in Florida, please contact our office. 1974). When the Fair Housing Act was initially passed in 1968, one of its main purposes was to combat racial discrimination and promote equal access to housing opportunities. 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. Litigation regarding non-compete agreements. TermsPrivacyDisclaimerCookiesDo Not Sell My Information, Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select. Will working with a lawyer to fight housing discrimination help me stay in my current residence or secure a place to live? If you have suffered discrimination, in your pursuit of housing due to your disability, you have options. View profile. However, it has since extended to cover all protected classes. Refusing to rent, sell, or negotiate with a family because the family has one or more children under 18 years of age (The building is for quiet professionals); Forcing families into housing units that are larger than necessary (Each child must have their own bedroom); Making certain floors or buildings for families with children or encouraging families with children to reside in particular areas of the building or complex (Families with kids must rent first floor apartments); Charging additional rent, security deposit, or fees because a household has children under 18 years of age; Creating and enforcing rules to restrict children in the building or complex (Persons under 18 years of age must be in their home by sunset); or. NY (844) 542-7235 South Florida's Premier Consumer Protection Law Firm "We are the civil police that monitors and modifies bad corporate behavior. } Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. If the court finds in your favor, the person you filed against could be ordered to compensate you for damages (expenses, emotional distress, and punitive damages), pay your attorney fees, or make housing available to you. FloridaPlantationcallHousing Discrimination 10 Under the Fair Housing Act, lenders, property managers, and landlords in South Florida are obliged to treat people equally and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. 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). Reach out to my firm, J. Courtney Cunningham PLLC, in Miami, Florida to discuss your case. is a request to physically modify your housing space or a common area space that all tenants share. .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-9-wrap .nf-field-label label { FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. Gainesville, FL 32601. The law that protects you in your HUD-funded housing as a survivor of domestic violence is called the Violence Against Womens Act (VAWA). #nf-form-2-cont .nf-error-field-errors { 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. Read more to find out if you have been the subject of housing discrimination, and if so, what you can do about it. If HUD determines that housing discrimination has occurred, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division can bring the case to Federal Court. ) Title II: State and Local Government Services 833.WIN.ANDY, 2023 Hale & Monico | Attorney Advertising | Disclaimer, Website Development by How to file a discrimination complaint. Peoria, You have an option of filing your inquiry directly with The Housing Urban Development (HUD) who can be reached via email @ ComplaintsOffice04@hud.gov or you may call them directly at 1-800-669-9777. She is applying to an apartment building with a no-pets policy. Back; Search Tools. You can choose to be represented by the HUDs appointed legal council or your own attorney. DISCLAIMER: NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. Discriminatory landowners and others have developed numerous ways to attempt to deny fair housing to others. Possible remedies for housing discrimination include injunctions, restraining orders, damages, court costs and attorney fees. They can choose to exclude children under 18 altogether and only allow persons 55 and older to rent or buy. Contact us. Learn more about the many federal laws that help promote equal housing opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Orlando, FL Discrimination Attorneys . Generally, the Fair Housing Act applies to a broad range of persons and entities, including public housing agencies, property owners, landlords, housing managers, real estate agents, brokerage service agencies, and banks. While the process described below applies to HUD investigations, you can reasonably expect a somewhat similar procedure from your HUD-certified local agency. Remember, you have. display: none; } Biased treatment is unlawful during housing related activities, such as renting, buying, and lending. Sometimes the victims of race-based housing discrimination are not even aware that they were treated any differently than any other buyer, renter, or tenant. Tell me your story. Next, they will determine whether there is enough evidence to establish that a violation did indeed occur. The attorney can assist you in pursuing a lawsuit against the violator. You can do this on a federal or state level. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Workplace discrimination/employment law/employment discrimination, Failure to make reasonable accommodations, Failure to grant medical leave or recognize a medical condition, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hearings and investigations, Hostile work environment and hostile co-workers, Civil rights violations (related to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964), Racial discrimination/race discrimination, Disability discrimination (in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act), including situations related to mental disability, Housing discrimination (including violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act). We Are Taking New Misclassified Rideshare Driver Clients. 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. A tenant that uses a wheelchair requires a ramp to access the entrance of the dwelling. 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. Yes, working with a lawyer to protect your rights can help you remain in your residence or secure a place to live. HUD decides that your local agency no longer meets the requirements for HUD certification. Also, the party accused of discrimination will have the chance to defend themselves by providing an alternative reason (other than discrimination) for the disparate treatment. Depending on the type of complaint, HUD may refer your case to an appropriate local agency for investigation, because they have certified that these agencies meet the same standards for procedure, investigations, and remedies that HUD does. (This may not be the same place you live). .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-10-wrap .nf-field-element .ninja-forms-field { Search for the topics you need help with. 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. 8950 SW 74th Ct 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 Housing Equality Center). By Marcia Stewart. Unlike discrimination against some of the other protected classes, racial discrimination in the housing industry is not always easy to spot. The Florida Commission on Human Relations was created to uphold state laws offering protection from discrimination in both housing and employment. LegalMatch Call You Recently? In certain circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with up to four units of single-family housing. If you believe you were a victim of housing discrimination, you have a right to file a housing discrimination complaint with HUD. Refuse to make reasonable accommodations or modifications. If you still need assistance, give us a call at (800) 405-1417. The Florida Commission on Human Relations has the authority to conduct Fair Housing discrimination investigations within the state of Florida except for the following counties and cities: City of Orlando Office of Human Relations (City of Orlando), 400 South Orange AvenueOrlando, FL 32801Phone: 407-246-2122 Fax: 407-246-2308Website: http://www.cityoforlando.net/, 306 E. Jackson Street Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-274-5835 Fax: 813-274-5854 Website: http://www.tampagov.net, Jacksonville Human Rights Commission (Duval County), 117 West Duval Street, Suite 350 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone: 904-630-4911 Fax: 904-630-4918 TTY: 904-630-4125 Website: http://www.coj.net/jhrc, Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity (Palm Beach County), 301 North Olive Avenue, 10th Floor West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561-355-4884 Fax: 561-355-4932 TTY: 561-355-1517 Website: http://www.pbcgov.com/equalopportunity, 400 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue, 5th Floor Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: 727-464-4880 Fax: 727-464-5298 TTY: 727-464-4062 Website: http://www.pinellascounty.org/humanrights/, Broward County Office of Equal Opportunity (Broward County), 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 427 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1883 Phone : 954-357-7800 Fax: 954-357-7817http://www.broward.org/Intergovernmental/Pages/EmploymentHousingDiscrimination.aspx. Sex discrimination laws can also protect: Protections for persons who experienced or are currently experiencing sexual harassment. The EEOC said in a release . an agent refusing to tell the owner about an offer), Misrepresenting the availability of a piece of property for inspection, sale, or lease, Attempting to conspire with others to discriminate, Improperly discouraging someone from a certain property or steering the person away from the property, Discriminatory mortgage or lending practices. New York, Examples like these are relatively rare. This includes acceptance of service animals. If you have a viable claim, our office will file the complaint on your behalf at no cost to you. We operate differently than many law firms and always put the best interests of . 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. Discrimination Lawyers Serving Orlando, FL (Maitland) Past client? Every house and apartment unit is different, and there are numerous factors that go into every real estate transaction. Congresswoman Introduces Bill to Restore Fair Housing Protections, Bank of America Sued for Failing to Maintain Foreclosed Properties in Minority Neighborhoods, HUD Investigates Facebook Over Housing Advertisements, New Federal Bill Seeks to Expand Fair Housing Act to Cover Gender Identity. All rights reserved. The Commission works cooperatively with its federal counterpart, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and most cases are dual filed. Discrimination Lawyers Serving Orlando, FL (Melbourne) 1 review Law Firm Profile 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 law prohibits discrimination in all aspects of the housing business, including: renting or leasing, sales, mortgage lending and insurance, advertising, practices such as restrictive covenants, and new construction. 360 Central Avenue, Suite 1160 The FHA applies to the following circumstances: Additionally, the Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to: There are four major exceptions to the Fair Housing Act: If you feel you have been discriminated against, it is important that you begin by filing a complaint with the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). to ensure your inquiries is thoroughly investigated. of the date you received notice of the determination. Although an attorney is not required to file a complaint with HUD, you may want to consult with a well qualified and knowledgeable real estate attorney who specializes in housing discrimination. There are generally two types of sexual harassment: Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment. 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. Examples of housing discrimination could include: As part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of dwellings. The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the federal Fair Housing Act Amendments Act of 1988 prohibit discrimination on the basis of the following criteria (called "protected categories"): race or color; religion; national origin; familial status or ageincludes families with children under the age of 18 and pregnant women . 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). It is against the law to do any of the following based on disability: The Fair Housing Act requires multi-family housing built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 to have certain accessibility features. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. We can discuss your legal options today. Together, we can take action and ensure that your voice is heard. The Texas Fair Housing Act and the U.S. Fair Housing Act prohibit discriminatory housing practices in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, or familial status (presence of a child under age 18 living with parents or legal custodians, person securing custody of children under 18, or a pregnant woman). Housing discrimination (including violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act) Lending discrimination Education discrimination 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. 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). Upon its passing, its central objective was to prohibit race discrimination in the sales and renting of housing. Please provide a valid Zip Code or City and choose a category, Please select a city from the list and choose a category. What to expect after you file an inquiry: When the Commission receives your inquiry and determines it is timely and jurisdictional, it will be investigated. You or the party you filed against can also choose to have a jury trial. 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. File an inquiry with the Commission's Housing Unit. It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, sex, disability, nationality, religion, color or familial status: 1. Additionally, you have 2 years to file a complaint in federal court from the last act of discrimination. How Does Closing a Credit Card Impact Your Credit? If HUD determines that housing discrimination has occurred, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division can bring the case to Federal Court. 2017 - 2023 Saady & Saxe, P.A. The more common method of proving housing discrimination is by indirect evidence. Advertisers and mortgage lenders can also be held liable for engaging in discriminatory practices related to housing. The Commission will work with the United States Department of Housing (HUD) to ensure your inquiries is thoroughly investigated. If you have questions about accessibility, please email us at [emailprotected]. HUD can also take action on your behalf if any of the following occur: HUD also investigates complaints against discrimination in HUD programs or discrimination by housing providers who receive HUD funding or have HUD-insured loans. For example, it is illegal to discriminate against someone in the terms or price of a real estate transaction. It would similarly be illegal to prohibit someone who is pregnant from renting. They may conduct interviews or property inspections, collect additional documentation, or use other methods throughout their investigation. A landlord cannot include provisions that prohibit a prospective tenant from having any children as a condition of renting an apartment. Disabilities may also include mental or emotional illness, difficulties associated with aging, HIV/AIDS, recovering alcoholism or drug addiction. Save any emails, telephone voicemails, written letters, or any other correspondence that relates to your experience. HUD complaints can be filed by mail, submitting online forms, through email, or over the phone. } Housing discrimination is often misidentified, ignored, or it just goes completely undetected. 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. Visit our web page about Violence Protection for more details about Domestic Violence rights. Yes, the more you know about your legal rights and the law, the better. I never heard about the home or the loan again. If you have been discriminated against while renting or buying a home in violation of the Fair Housing Act, you have the right to pursue compensation for all quantifiable damages that follow. If you suspect that youve been treated unfairly in housing, the first step you should take is to document as much as possible about the discrimination as you can.