Isle of Paradise ‘B’ Inc., Familial Status Discrimination, Florida 2023

Families with Children Turned Away from Florida Rentals

Isle of Paradise ‘B’ Inc., Isle of Paradise ‘C’ Inc., and Isle of Paradise ‘E’ Inc. are three cooperative housing corporations in Hallandale Beach, Florida, that were found to have discriminated against families with children.

According to the Justice Department, these properties – the Monticello, the Georgetown, and the Williamsburg – maintained and/or enforced policies prohibiting children under age 12 from residing in the buildings since 2015. The properties are 30-unit multifamily buildings located on an island known as the Isle of Paradise.

The department’s lawsuit alleged that Isle of Paradise ‘B’ Inc., Isle of Paradise ‘C’ Inc., and Isle of Paradise ‘E’ Inc. discriminated against families with children by enforcing these policies.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, ‘The Fair Housing Act outlaws familial status discrimination, including discrimination against families with children.’ The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act and seeking relief for families harmed by unlawful policies and practices that unfairly exclude them.

The settlements, in the form of three separate consent decrees, were approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The defendants will pay a total of $52,000, including $39,000 to individuals who are alleged to have been harmed by the defendants’ practices and civil penalties to the government to vindicate the public interest.

The defendants also agreed to undergo fair housing training and to submit periodic reports to the department. The Justice Department’s investigation began after a woman and her real estate agent informed the department that she was turned away from renting a unit at the Monticello building because she had a son under age 12.

Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at these properties because they have children should send an e-mail to IsleofParadise@usdoj.gov or fairhousing@usdoj.gov; or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291, selecting option 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 1 for housing discrimination, and then option 7 for Isle of Paradise.

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