Housing

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.

Who Can File?

It is against the law to do any of the following based on race, color, national origin, sex, 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

  • 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)

Real estate agents, brokers, landlords or anyone in the housing business has violated these laws if they encourage a homeowner to sell or rent with discriminatory intent.

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 To File?

Call, write or visit the Commission within 1 year of the date on which the alleged act of discrimination occurred and describe the situation you feel was discriminatory.

  1. Speak with one of our experienced and compassionate staff members who will listen, advise and assist you.

  2. File an inquiry with the Commission’s Housing Unit.


Use the Housing Discrimination Questionnaire to assist you.

The Commission works cooperatively with its federal counterpart, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and most cases are dual filed.

The Commission investigates housing discrimination inquiries under the Florida Fair Housing Act, Chapter 760.

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

Housing Discrimination Questionnaire


Below you will find a link to download the document "Housing Technical Assistance Questionnaire". 

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). An email option will be added soon. The Office of Customer Service will complete a charge form, as applicable, for your signature and mail it to you at the address listed on the questionnaire.

The Process

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.

  • The Commission will work with the United States Department of Housing (HUD) to ensure your inquiries is thoroughly investigated.

  • Once the Commission reaches a decision, you will receive instructions on how to seek the remedies provided for under the law.

  • Possible remedies for housing discrimination include injunctions, restraining orders, damages, court costs and attorney fees

JURISDICTION

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 Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-246-2122 Fax: 407-246-2308
Website: http://www.cityoforlando.net/

City of Tampa Office of Human Rights

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

Pinellas County Office of Human Rights

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: 954-357-7817
http://www.broward.org/Intergovernmental/Pages/EmploymentHousingDiscrimination.aspx

Informative Video