Fair Housing
The Human Rights Ordinance of Alachua County, Chapter 111 of the Alachua County Code, protects individuals from discrimination
in housing on the basis of race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, veteran or service member status, lawful source of income, citizenship status, being the victim of dating or domestic violence or stalking, or retaliation within the
geographic boundaries of Alachua County.
Retaliation: It is unlawful to retaliate, or take
adverse action against an individual because
they opposed a discriminatory practice, filed
a complaint, testified or participated in an
investigation on any protected basis under
this chapter.
Creating & Maintaining a Positive Housing Environment
Having a positive
housing environment is integral to
quality of life.
Housing discrimination does happen,
and it can have a
negative impact on
tenants and housing providers. The Alachua
County Equal Opportunity Office serves as
both a resource and a regulator by working to
uphold the laws that protect against housing
discrimination and by educating tenants and
housing providers of their rights and
responsibilities.
Protect Your Rights
If you believe you have been a victim of
housing discrimination, you have the right to
take action. The Alachua County Equal
Opportunity Office can assist you.
Filing a Fair Housing complaint – A
complaint must be filed with the
Alachua County Equal Opportunity
Office within 180 days of the date of
the alleged discriminatory housing
action.
Investigation – If the dispute cannot be
resolved through mediation/
conciliation, the Alachua County Equal
Opportunity Office will conduct an
impartial investigation.
Determination – The investigative report
will be presented to the Alachua
County Human Rights Board who will
determine whether or not there is
sufficient evidence to support a
finding of unlawful discrimination.
Notification – Both parties are notified of
the determination and options under
the law. This could result in an
administrative hearing or civil action
in a court of law.
Examples of Housing Discrimination
- A realtor not showing an AfricanAmerican family housing within a
predominantly White neighborhood,
saying that they would not feel “at
home” there.
- Refusing to rent to a person in a wheelchair because he or she may require
modifications to the unit.
- Charging a single female with children a
higher security deposit than a married
couple with no children.
- Refusing to rent a one-bedroom
apartment to a same sex couple.
- Ignoring a call from a prospective renter
because he or she has an accent.
- A landlord telling a potential renter
who is transgender that an apartment
is not available, and then renting it to
someone else.
- Circulating flyers warning neighbors
that terrorists are taking over the
neighborhood after a Muslim family
inquires about a house for sale.
Discriminatory Housing Practices
The following are unlawful and discriminatory
housing practices because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, veteran or service member status, lawful source of income, citizenship status, being the victim of dating or domestic violence or stalking, or retaliation:
- Refusing to sell, rent or lease housing
to an interested tenant or buyer.
- Applying different sale, rental
or occupancy terms for different people.
- Misrepresenting the availability of
housing when housing is in fact available.
- Providing inferior conditions, terms,
facilities or privileges in connection with
housing.
- Steering customers to a certain
neighborhood, or refusing to serve certain
customers by real estate professionals.
- Redlining or limiting lending in a particular
area because of the demographics of that
area or imposing different terms or
conditions on a loan.
- Refusing to permit
reasonable
modifications when
accommodations
may be necessary
for an individual
with a disability to
use and enjoy their
dwelling.
- Harassing tenants and homeowners in
connection with housing accommodations.