US landlord makes vaccines mandatory for tenants

A landlord is risking thousands in fines after introducing a rule that all his tenants must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

An ugly stoush has emerged after a US landlord demanded all his tenants be vaccinated against Covid before they are allowed to renew their leases.

Santiago Alvarez, who owns eight apartment buildings in Florida, will mandate that tenants must prove they have had at least their first Covid vaccination before renewing their lease.

“You don’t want to get vaccinated? You have to move,” Mr Alvarez, 80, told The Washington Post. “And if you don’t move, one must move forward with an eviction.”

The landlord wants all tenants to have been vaccinated before signing their leases. Picture: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP

He said he will make exceptions for people who do not get vaccinated for religious or medical reasons.

The move has infuriated at least one tenant according to The Post.

The publication reported, Jasmine Irby, 28, filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She argued she should be able to renew her lease without disclosing personal health information.

Ms Irby’s lawyer wrote to the landlord who said the rule was in breach of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ executive order prohibiting businesses from requiring a vaccine as a condition of entry.

US President Joe Biden. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

However, the landlord argues that his rule is not in violation of the order as it is for tenants, not “customers or patrons”.

The Governor’s press secretary told The Washington Post that “the law is very clear” and every breach “will result in a $5000 fine”.

The saga comes after US President Joe Biden announced a new rule that would require businesses with 100 employees or more to mandate vaccines or frequent testing.

Of Florida’s population, about 65 per cent have received their first vaccination.

Originally published as US landlord makes vaccines mandatory for tenants