If you’re in real estate, you need to know this: websites are becoming a primary lawsuit target. Attorneys are going after real estate professionals claiming their sites don’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These lawsuits can lead to settlements, compliance orders, or dismissals—but even if you win, they’re costly, time-consuming, and stressful.
What’s Actually Happening Out There
In Napa, California, a disabled plaintiff sued a local brokerage claiming the website shut out visually impaired users. A federal judge threw the case out because the plaintiff couldn’t prove the website actually prevented access to any real-world goods or services.
Meanwhile, real estate professionals in Florida and Massachusetts have been served with cease-and-desist letters for alleged ADA and Fair Housing Act violations. Here’s the kicker: many of these lawsuits push for quick settlements, whether or not anyone was actually denied access. It’s become a cottage industry of opportunistic litigation.
The Bigger Picture
The multifamily housing sector and individual brokers are being heavily targeted with these claims. Some lawsuits even argue that those accessibility overlay widgets—you know, the ones brokerages add trying to fix accessibility—actually make things worse for screen readers.
Hundreds of ADA website lawsuits are filed every year, and real estate is a frequent target. Most settle quickly for substantial payments, even when there’s zero proof that anyone was actually harmed.
Quick Reference
| Who Got Sued | Where | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Napa County Brokerage | California | Dismissed—plaintiff had no standing |
| Realtors | Florida, Massachusetts | Demand letters citing ADA/Fair Housing |
| Multifamily Operators | Nationwide | Mixed outcomes—sued over overlays and site barriers |
Bottom Line
Even small technical issues on your website can trigger a lawsuit or demand letter. Most claims never reach a courtroom—they settle to avoid incurring larger legal bills down the road.
What You Should Do
Your clients trust you. Will your prospects? When your website has barriers—or worse, goes down entirely—it raises questions about how reliable you really are.
Review your website accessibility now. I use this tool for initial results. Typically, the issue is with the IDX feed tools that are NOT compliant. They may be compliant for the MLS, but your MLS is doing you a disservice by not demanding that all IDX solutions provide ADA-compliant content. Run your pages through this tool: WAVE Web Accessibility Tool
Consult with a lawyer who is knowledgeable about ADA compliance. Implement recognized standards like WCAG. It’s not just about avoiding lawsuits—it’s about making sure everyone can find you, reach you, and work with you.