We’ve Got Your Back – Fair Housing Compliance Reminder
October 27 @ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Instructor: Evian White De Leon
This is an important reminder of our shared commitment to upholding fair housing. As REALTORS®, it is critical to ensure that all marketing materials and listings are inclusive and compliant with federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. Not only does this uphold fair housing – but it protects you and your brokerages from frivolous lawsuits.
We are seeing an increase in lawsuits against REALTOR® members for alleged fair housing violations. BeachesMLS® and MIAMI MLS have implemented compliance software that scans listings for potentially discriminatory language within property descriptions, such as “family,” “adults only,” or “Section 8,” which can be misconstrued as fair housing violations. Regardless of intent, these identifiers can inadvertently signal a preference or limitation based on protected classes, which often lead to serious legal consequences. These are not hypothetical situations — these protections are in the MLSs because of cases where our members have been sued.
To ensure full compliance, please keep the following guidelines in mind when drafting listings:
- Focus on the property (not the people living in it!). Focus the listing on the physical features of the property. Avoid using any words that imply a preference for any group, e.g. family, Section 8, couples.
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Get the tenant screening toolkit. The best way to prevent a fair housing lawsuit is preparation. Get the tenant screening toolkit HERE.
- Review current listings NOW. Audit your active listings for any language that can be perceived as discriminatory or have an impact on a protected class and update those listings immediately.
Upcoming Fair Housing Training
To further support you, we scheduled another fair housing class on October 27, 2026, at 2 PM. Hosted by Evian White De Leon, Chief Operating Offer and Chief of MIAMI REALTORS® Division, and Guerby Noel, Senior Legal Counsel, this 90-minute session will provide a deeper dive into the best practices for inclusive marketing and help you navigate common pitfalls. Come ready with your questions, which we’ll answer live!
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