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'Fair Housing Act' in SWFL's Short-term Rental Market

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

This week the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers hosts its annual Fair Housing Summit, this year is paying special attention to the federal Fair Housing Act, which states landlords cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin when renting or selling a home. But how do these laws impact short-term rentals in Southwest Florida?

Renting a home in our region is no different, but what if a private homeowner rents his or her house for a week or a month at a time? What if someone rents a room through an internet site like Airbnb? Are individuals subject to the same anti-discrimination laws as annual landlords, corporate apartment complex owners, or home sellers?

Monday 1 p.m., Jeanie Sutton with the Lee County Human and Veterans Services office explains how the Fair Housing Act impacts Southwest Florida.

Sherri Campanale, director of housing operations with the Housing Authority of Fort Myers, will also join the show to explain Fair Housing Act issues in our region.

Also joining the program is seasonal rental specialist Donata Noone with Suncoasteam Realty about the seasonal rental market and how contracted rental agents handle homeowners with their own ideas of who they want to rent to.

Matthew Smith is a reporter and producer of WGCU’s Gulf Coast Live.
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