housing discrimination attorney florida housing discrimination attorney florida

display: none; } Evicting families from an apartment or mobile home park because it wants to change to a senior-only apartment or mobile home park. What Discrimination Looks Like What is Protected Available Remedies Complaint Process FAQ Other Housing Issues Ken is an active member of the American Bar Association, San Francisco Bar Association, and the California Lawyers for the Arts. width:350px; Choose from 58 attorneys by reading reviews and considering peer ratings. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes . Familial status means having children under age 18 in the household. It has been more than 30 days since you filed your complaint and your certified local agency has not started proceedings; Your certified local agency is not carrying out the proceedings in a prompt manner; and. 360 Central Avenue, Suite 1160 If you are unsure whether you may have been discriminated against based on your race, color or national origin, please, Disabilities may also include mental or emotional illness, difficulties associated with aging, HIV/AIDS, recovering alcoholism or drug addiction. New York, Copyright 1999-2023 LegalMatch. 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. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act by investigating complaints from individuals and community organization across the nation. 53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 334 File a discrimination complaint with HUD Predatory lending - don't be a victim of unfair lending practices Tenant rights, laws, and protections At Your Service If you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, you may file a complaint, or call us toll-free at 1 (800) 669-9777. HUD decides that your local agency no longer meets the requirements for HUD certification. HUD will review their facts and determination, and will decide whether to change it or leave it as is. The person or organization you filed the complaint against will be notified and have an opportunity to respond. Possible remedies for housing discrimination include injunctions, restraining orders, damages, court costs and attorney fees. Im here to help. 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. This includes actions involving the sale or lease of temporary or permanent housing, such as refusing to rent an apartment. The Florida Fair Housing Act does not provide new protected traits. Here are 10 big issues to watch: AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Senate President Kathleen . Does the Fair Housing Act apply to hotels or other properties besides rental properties? If you have a viable claim, our office will file the complaint on your behalf at no cost to you. 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. That would include demanding someone pay a higher security deposit simply because of that individuals race. We represent individuals and families who have been wrongfully discriminated against in their search for temporary or permanent housing. Click here to see a state-by-state list of HUDs Substantially Equivalent Agencies here. Renting or purchasing a new place of residence can be incredibly exciting. Library, Bankruptcy Did you mean Discrimination in Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer? Shutts & Bowen LLP is a full-service business law firm with approximately 300 lawyers, practicing in more than 30 practice areas, with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando . University of Florida. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Your message has failed. Free Consultation Civil Rights, Animal, Appeals and Criminal. Some housing is only for people who are 62 years old or older Which means that every person who lives in this type of housing must be at least 62 years old or older. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content./* FORM STYLES */ Outreach and public contact, including contact with program applicants and participants. NY Landlords are allowed to deny housing on the basis of legitimate business reasons. 16 people have successfully posted their cases, 5 people have successfully posted their cases, 10 people have successfully posted their cases, 6 people have successfully posted their cases, 20 people have successfully posted their cases, 7 people have successfully posted their cases, 9 people have successfully posted their cases, Can't find your category? 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. POTTER HANDY LLP CANNOT PERMIT AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP TO EXIST UNTIL WE HAVE OBTAINED ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION AND EVALUATED ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Florida Commission on Human Relations, 4075 Esplanade Way Unit 110, Tallahassee, FL, 32399. 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. Equal access to housing is a civil right protected by law on both state and federal levels. It is not always easy to ascertain whether or not housing discrimination has taken place. #nf-form-2-cont .nf-error-field-errors { At Florin Gray Bouzas Owens, our legal team is dedicated to the pursuit of justice for our clients. Regardless of how subtle or overt the discrimination is, federal and state law is on your side. DISCLAIMER: NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. Heres how you can help your case: Keep a record of the housing discrimination: write notes detailing who was involved and exactly what happened. Erik Szabo and Scott Glass Speak at the 2022 Mid Florida Housing Summit. is a request to physically modify your housing space or a common area space that all tenants share. I am truly passionate about ensuring your rights are upheld and fighting for justice when those rights have been infringed upon. Reach out to my firm, J. Courtney Cunningham PLLC, in Miami, Florida to discuss your case. (this may not be the same place you live), Faulty/Defective Products/Services (Auto, Drug), Investments (Annuities, Securities, IPOs), Online Law 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. Providing financial assistance for buyers or renters of real estate; Participating in real estate organizations; Intimidating, coercing, or threatening others in regards to their purchase or rental; and. Who Can File? Fair housing is the right to buy or rent a home, free from illegal discrimination. Call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800-669-9777 (TTY: 800-927-9275), or visit HUD complaint page for information about filing a complaint. (2) A Hostile Environment is when a housing provider creates a threatening or uncomfortable environment because of unwanted sexual behavior. Similar protections are also enshrined in Florida Statutes, which Floridians are entitled by law to rent a place to live or buy a home without consideration of their race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status, or religion. Click here. If you have questions or concerns over whether you were unfairly treated, reach out to us. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. 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. 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. When considering attorneys to represent your case, its strongly advised that you seek representation by a lawyer who has experience in civil rights litigation. in full, contained in Florida Statutes 760.20-760.37. Search for the topics you need help with. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing ExxonMobil over racial discrimination after multiple nooses were found at one of the company's facilities. Claims against an insurance agent and insurance company where a policy was obtained on behalf of a personal staffing company; the carrier denied coverage for personal injuries sustained by a third party on the ground that coverage was for clerical error problems, not personal injury accidents, ONE CENTRAL TOWER Yes No If yes, please ; . Discrimination in housing is against the law. What Types of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle? The reopened investigation follows hot on the heels of Read More , Earlier this year, a new bill was introduced in the Senate, that if passed, could significantly expand the protections offered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). To file a complaint or learn more about the process, go to HUDs, https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint, You can also speak with a HUD intake specialist at, HUD will send you a written report notifying you of its findings once the investigation is over. As a father to a child with autism, I am no stranger to advocating for fair treatment. Engage in mortgage lending discrimination; Harass people based on their protected class; Interfere with anyone exercising their FHA rights; and. 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. 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. Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I have read the entire contents of this questionnaire and that . Under the Fair Housing Act, Floridians are legally entitled to housing without the consideration of their race, gender, disability, religion, national origin, or familial status. SIMPLY CONTACTING POTTER HANDY LLP BY EMAIL OR OTHERWISE WILL NOT ESTABLISH AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND POTTER HANDY LLP. I dont know what Im going to do about the broken heater when it gets even colder. Law, Employment 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. Indicates required information. Housing Discrimination Questionnaire (REV 01/2023) Page 2 . Leave a review. The Fair Housing Act (along with its amendments) states that property owners, financial institutions, and landlords may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin. A person with a disability must notify the housing provider if they need a reasonable accommodation, and the housing provider must grant the request if it is reasonable. Gilead Community Services, a non-profit serving people with mental health disabilities in Connecticut since 1968, sought to open a six . Back; Search Tools. IL In general, the Fair Housing laws apply to: Additionally, the act also protects individuals enforcing their fair housing rights from harassment. Otis Bruce Jr., a . Read below for more information. } further disclosure in accordance with Chapter 16 and Florida's Public Record Act. Contact me. Copied to clipboard. Housing discrimination refers to a person being denied housing due to their membership to a protected class, and not for any legitimate business reasons. Under both Illinois and federal law, discrimination in real estate transactions is illegal. Law, Intellectual 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. 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. 10279 His landlord must allow the installation, again at the tenants expense. 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. Under Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes, the Federal Fair Housing Act, and theFlorida Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to do any of the following acts based on race, color, gender, disability, religion, national origin, or familial status: Property owners, real estate agents, lenders, or anyone in the housing industry may breach these laws if they incite a property owner to sell or rent based on discriminatory factors. 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. }, 110 SE 6th St. 17th Floor Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301, 2023 The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi, 2 Ways to Remove Late Payments From Your Credit Report. Remember, you have 1 year from the alleged act of discrimination to file an administrative complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. When I went to look at it, the loan officer grabbed my breasts. Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. can assist you with filing a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development or you may file the complaint yourself. The Commission offers mediation services, providing a free and impartial way to solve conflicts, and enforces Florida's Civil Rights and Fair Housing laws. 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. However, additional protections may be available based on the county you live in. I went to look at a home to rent and the owner told me he would lower the rent if I had sex with him. IL Although an attorney is not required to file a complaint with HUD, you may want to consult with a well-qualified and knowledgeable Sarasota, Florida lawyer who specializes in housing discrimination. Housing discrimination is the illegal act of refusing to rent or sell a dwelling to someone based on their gender, race, skin color, religion, familial status (single, married, divorced), or disability. refers to the country of a persons birth or where their ancestors were born, as well as their ethnicity, culture, and language. While discriminatory actions can be obvious, like a landlord refusing to rent to you because of youre a protected characteristic, more often than not, discrimination is carried out through subtle actions. Represented doctors in discrimination cases against their employers. Disabilities may also include mental or emotional illness, difficulties associated with aging, HIV/AIDS, recovering alcoholism or drug addiction. display: none; } Please select a city to find local Florida Discrimination lawyers. 2017 - 2023 Saady & Saxe, P.A. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. You can call toll-free 1 (800) 669-9777. Some housing may be subject to the accessibility requirements of other laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local building codes. The Housing Access Project fulfills its mission by combatting discriminatory housing practices and by assisting individuals in enforcing their housing rights under state and federal fair housing laws. Additionally, you have 2 years from when the last act of discrimination occurred to file a housing discrimination complaint in Federal Court if you do not wish file through an agency. Biased treatment is unlawful during housing related activities, such as renting, buying, and lending. Equal Services, Housing for People with Disabilities. Federal housing discrimination is discrimination on renting or buying a property based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and. What parties/entities may be liable for wrongfully denying housing in Florida? Where necessary, reasonable accommodations in housing rules, policies, practices, or services are required to allow people with disabilities equal opportunity to use and enjoy dwellings. If you feel you were discriminated against or given unequal treatment based on race, gender (or gender identity), disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, religion, or some other protected class, a discrimination lawyer can help. Write down any conversations or interactions you have had (whether they happened in the past or are ongoing) to create a timeline of your experience. 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. You and the party you filed against have. How do I know if I have been discriminated against/illegally denied housing in Florida? Learn more about the many federal laws that help promote equal housing opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Representation of companies in providing training seminars concerning sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. ); A landlord or seller tells you their property is no longer available, yet it is still listed as for rent or for sale; A landlord or seller makes presumptions about your income, family status, or criminal history based upon your race,color, or national origin; A landlord has many listed rentals but refuses to show you certain units, will only show you the lower-quality units, or will only show you units near others of your samerace, color, or national origin; A landlord or seller tells you that you might be more comfortable in a different neighborhood; Advertisements for a property show a preference for a specific race, color, or national origin; or.