Is a landlord allowed to discriminate against tenants based on their occupation under Fair Housing Law?
No, a landlord is not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on their occupation under Fair Housing Law in Florida. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against individuals in rental, sales, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. Florida also has a state Fair Housing Law that is more protective than the federal law. Florida law prohibits a landlord from discriminating against a tenant based on their occupation. Specifically, it states “a landlord shall not (a) refuse or deny to rent or lease any dwelling unit to a person because of the occupation of such person or any other person occupying or intending to occupy such dwelling unit.” This means that a landlord cannot refuse to rent a dwelling unit to a tenant or prospective tenant because they are unemployed, working in a lower wage profession, or any other occupation. Landlords must treat all prospective tenants equally without regard to their employment status. Landlords should also be aware of local city ordinances that may also provide additional protections for tenants. It is important to understand and comply with all relevant Fair Housing Laws to ensure no tenant is discriminated against based on their occupation.
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