• About
  • Complaints
  • Contact us
  • Forms
  • Disclaimer
  • Copyright

Florida Landlord-Tenant Law

~ a digest of Florida Landlord Tenant Court Decisions

Florida Landlord-Tenant Law

Tag Archives: discrimination

Scam Alert: Rash of Section 8 law suits filed against South Florida Realtors

02 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by apjlaw in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

16.5, broward, discrimination, human rights, law suit, listing, section 8, voucher

Broward County added source of income to its list of protected categories  in the County’s human rights ordinance last December to very little fanfare.    This had the consequence of making the refusal to accept section 8 vouchers a putative violation of the ordinance.   A lawyer who had allegedly filed 60 cookie cutter disability lawsuits in the Tampa area, has now struck in Broward with 46 lawsuits, according to The Real Deal,  against realtors and landlords who stated that section 8 vouchers were not accepted in their listings.  The realtors claim they aren’t the ones discriminating,  it is their clients who state that they don’t take section 8.   Nevertheless, the ordinance appears to make it a violation for publishing a discriminatory listing.   All of the lawsuits have the same plaintiff, Christopher Benjamin.  ABC News reported that all of the Tampa Cases settled, with the lawyer raking in $5000  per complaint.  The realtors in Broward said they consider this be be a shakedown at an emergency meeting at the Board today.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors has updated its listing service to prohibit any commentary regarding section 8 and plans to urge the County Commission to revisit the ordinance.  Apparently, only one law firm ,  Kaye, Bender and Rembaum, saw this coming,  advising in their blog on February 7, 2018 ”

Of particular note in all of the foregoing is the extension of a protected classification to recipients of Section 8 Housing vouchers. As “financial condition” and/or “source of income” has not previously been a protected classification (and is still not one under State and Federal laws), it now has such protection in Broward County.  Board members in Broward County reviewing prospective leasing applications which were previously denied will need to be mindful of this change. If there is ever a question regarding the status of a protected classification, or whether or not the board may disapprove an application for sale or lease, the board should consult with its qualified counsel before making a decision.”

In the meantime at least 46 realtors have 20 days to respond to the law suits and they are not happy.

Advertisements

Rate this:

About this Blog

This blog contains articles about Florida landlord-tenant law written by a practicing Florida lawyer.

There are free landlord-tenant forms on the Forms Tab above, and even more free forms on my website FloridaREI.com (click on the link below).

You can search the articles by terms in the search tab above, or click on the categories below to browse.

Comments and feedback are welcome and I will try to answer your questions (within reason).

Click "subscribe" below to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Click on the Monkey below to subscribe to our real estate investors newsletter

The Florida Bar urges you to read the disclaimer above.

Click here for more forms

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Categories

  • Foreclosure
  • Landlord – Tenant
    • 15 Day Notice / Termination of Tenancy
    • 3 Day Notice / Non-payment of rent
    • 7 Day Notice / Lease violations
    • Commercial
    • Damages
    • Foreclosure
    • Lease Terms
    • Legal requirements
    • Notice Requirements
    • Repair issues
    • Requirement to post rent into court registry
    • Security Deposit
  • Real Estate
  • Scams
  • Tax Deeds
  • Uncategorized

Pages

  • About
  • Contact us
  • Forms
  • Disclaimer
  • Complaints
  • Copyright

Archives

  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
Advertisements

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.