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Dealing with Contractors

Natural disasters cause damage to homes, businesses, and city infrastructure. When the storm passes and you are able to investigate the damage, scammers come around. Contractors claiming to be something they are not can take your money and run. People like roofers, carpenters, and plumbers may claim to help you…

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Housing

Financial Matters

Disaster Relief

Ejectment of Unwanted Occupant

When there is no agreement to pay rent between a property owner and the occupant, an ejectment lawsuit is the proper action to be filed by a property owner (or a person in lawful possession of the property) to recover possession of the property from an unwanted occupant. While ejectments…

Family & Personal

Housing

Fair Housing

All Central Floridians deserve equal housing opportunities. This topic page explains what housing discrimination is, what laws protect you, how to avoid taking part in discrimination, how to proceed if you are the victim, and how fair housing laws effect the lending process.

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Fair Housing | Housing

Fees in Lieu of Security Deposit

Landlords may offer tenants the option to pay a nonrefundable fee instead of a security deposit. This page explores the statutory requirements and other considerations for fees in lieu of security deposit.

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Housing

Community Legal Services (CLS) provides legal information and representation to renters and homeowners to help you stay in your home. Information available here includes evictions, landlord-tenant disagreements, subsidized housing, unlawful detainers, ejectments, reverse mortgage foreclosures, mortgage foreclosures, and more.

Family & Personal

Housing

Housing Choice Vouchers – Subsidized Housing

Families who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program use vouchers issued by local Housing Authorities (HA) to rent privately-owned apartments or houses from landlords approved by the HA. Families sign leases with landlords, just as they would in private housing, and the HA pays a portion of the family’s…

Family & Personal

Housing

Housing Discrimination and Fair Housing Laws

Find information on Florida and federal fair housing protections, detailing how discrimination in renting, buying, lending, insurance, or housing-related services based on certain protected classes is illegal. Learn how to recognize unfair practices and what legal options and support are available.

Family & Personal

Fair Housing | Housing

Housing Providers and Fair Housing Laws

As a housing provider, you have an obligation to uphold fair housing laws. Individuals looking to buy or rent from you have rights under the Federal Fair Housing Act and Florida’s Fair Housing Act that protect them from housing discrimination It is just as important that you know these specific…

Family & Personal

Fair Housing | Housing

Landlords in Foreclosure

Your Landlord is Facing Foreclosure If the person who owns the home that you are renting does not make their mortgage loan payments, they may end up in foreclosure — a lawsuit where their lender attempts to have the court sell off the property to pay off the loan. This…

Family & Personal

Housing

Financial Matters

Debt & Creditors

Lending Discrimination

Your race, color, religion, gender, familial status, or national origin should never affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage — this concept is called “fair lending.” Fair lending is a right provided to you by the Federal Fair Housing Act, with equal protections offered by Florida’s Fair Housing Act.…

Family & Personal

Fair Housing | Housing