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When Do Federal Fair Housing Laws Apply?

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 Fair Housing Act encompasses most housing. In certain circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with up to four units of single-family housing. In general, the Fair Housing laws apply to:

  • Renting
  • Buying
  • Financing
  • Purchasing property
  • Constructing accessible housing
  • Insurance
  • Advertising

Additionally, the act also protects individuals enforcing their fair housing rights from harassment.

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What Constitutes Illegal Discrimination Under Florida Fair Housing Laws?

Under Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes, the Federal Fair Housing Act, and the Florida 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:

  • Refuse to negotiate for housing
  • Refuse to rent or sell housing
  • Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
  • Provide different housing services or facilities
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, rent, or sale
  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan
  • Impose different conditions or terms on a loan
  • Discriminate in appraising property
  • Threaten, coerce, or intimidate any individual exercising a fair housing right
  • Refuse reasonable changes to your dwelling to accommodate a disability

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.

What Should I Do If I Experience Housing Discrimination in Florida?

If you believe you are being discriminated against for renting or buying a home in Florida, it’s essential to write down detailed notes to keep track of everything that’s happened. Be sure to include any names of those involved, along with the date, time, and location of each occurrence.

Additionally, hang on to any documents or communications relating to the discrimination, such as leases, letters of denial, emails, or text messages. That will all support your housing discrimination complaint with The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi. The more documentation you have to support your discrimination claim, the stronger your case will be.

How Do I File a Complaint for Housing Discrimination in South Florida?

If you’ve experienced discrimination while renting, selling, occupying, or financing of housing in Florida, you can file a complaint with the help of attorney Jibrael S. Hindi. When you seek our counsel, you will not pay for representation since we receive our fees from the defendants in your case. If you believe you might have a valid complaint, you have one-year from the date the alleged violation occurred to file.

You do not have to report the discrimination on your own. As a victim of housing discrimination, you may also be entitled to pursue damages from the party responsible for the bias in state or federal court.

Speak with an experienced Florida Fair Housing lawyer as soon as you suspect housing discrimination. When considering attorneys to represent your case, it’s strongly advised that you seek representation by a lawyer who has experience in civil rights litigation.

Case Results

Millions Recovered For Our Clients

  • +$200,000,000

    Class Action Settlements

    +$30,000,000

    TCPA Settlements

    +$30,000,000

    Consumer Debt Waived

  • +$15,000,000

    Data Breach Settlements

    +$15,000,000

    FDCPA Settlements

    +$10,000,000

    Mass Arbitration Settlements

  • +$10,000,000

    FCRA Settlements

    +$1,500,000

    Telephone Consumer Protection Act

    +$1,400,000

    Fair Debt Collection
    Practices Act

Fair Housing FAQs

What are fair housing violations in Florida?

It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, color, national origin, gender, handicap, familial status, or religion:

  • Refuse to rent or sell housing.
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, rental or sale.
  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan.

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.

How do I know if I have been discriminated against/illegally denied housing in Florida?

Your application will be denied, or you will have been discouraged from renting/purchasing housing because of your race, color, national origin, gender, handicap, familial status, religion, criminal history, or source of income.

I believe I may have been discriminated against when applying for housing in Florida. How do I file a complaint?

If you believe you have been discriminated against when applying for housing in Florida, please contact our office. If you have a viable claim, our office will file the complaint on your behalf at no cost to you.

What parties/entities may be liable for wrongfully denying housing in Florida?

The property owner and/or property management company could be found liable.

Should I hire a lawyer to help me secure housing in Florida? Why?

Yes, the more you know about your legal rights and the law, the better. An attorney can help ensure that your rights are protected as a renter.

Will working with a lawyer to fight housing discrimination help me stay in my current residence or secure a place to live?

Yes, working with a lawyer to protect your rights can help you remain in your residence or secure a place to live.

Does the Fair Housing Act apply to hotels or other properties besides rental properties?

Generally speaking, the FHA does not apply to hotels. 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.

What does the Fair Housing Act apply to?

The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. 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.

How do I know if being denied a home loan is due to discrimination?

It is not always easy to ascertain whether or not housing discrimination has taken place. If, you believe that you have been a victim of housing discrimination, please contact our office and we will assist you in determining whether or not housing discrimination has taken place.

Contact South Florida’s Knowledgeable Fair Housing Lawyers for a Free Consultation

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. Speak with an experienced Florida Fair Housing lawyer today to end the discrimination and seek the compensation you deserve. Led by Attorney Jibrael S. Hindi of The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi, we take pride in professionally and aggressively advocating for our clients. We work with you hand in hand to achieve the best outcome in your situation without charging a dime until we’ve secured compensation for you. To speak with a seasoned Florida Fair Housing lawyer today about your situation, schedule a free legal consultation by completing a contact form or call (844)-JIBRAEL.

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What Our Clients Have to Say

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