The Fair Housing Act identifies specific characteristics that cannot be used as a basis for denying housing opportunities. These include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (families with children under 18), and disability. Many states and localities expand upon these federal protections to include additional classes such as sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and source of income. Understanding these protections is crucial for real estate professionals to ensure they treat all individuals fairly and avoid discriminatory practices.
A landlord refuses to rent to a family because they have two young children. This is illegal discrimination based on familial status.
Protected Classes is tested in the Mandated Disclosures section of the real estate exam. Questions typically present a scenario and ask you to apply the concept. Here are examples of how exam questions are phrased:
Under Connecticut law, refusing to rent based on source of income is:
Oregon fair housing law adds which protected classes beyond federal law?
Under Oregon law, refusing to rent based on source of income is:
Practice with all 10 related questions below to build confidence in this topic area.
Memorize the federal protected classes: Remember 'FRSH CRN' representing Familial status, Race, Sex, Handicap (Disability), Color, Religion, National origin. Pay close attention to state-specific protected classes, as these often vary.
Related Terms
Practice Questions
Under Connecticut law, refusing to rent based on source of income is:
Oregon fair housing law adds which protected classes beyond federal law?
Under Oregon law, refusing to rent based on source of income is:
Under the , an employer may not discriminate against a disabled person who seeks employment due to that person’s disability.
Nevada fair housing law adds which protected classes beyond federal law?
New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination adds which protected classes beyond federal law?
The Texas Fair Housing Act protects all federal classes plus:
The Florida Fair Housing Act protects all federal classes plus:
Source of income discrimination in NYC housing is:
Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is a protected class?
Related Concepts
The Lead-Based Paint Disclosure is a federally mandated disclosure required for all residential properties built before 1978. Sellers and landlords must disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."
A property condition disclosure is a written statement by the seller detailing the known condition of the property, including defects, repairs, and issues with major systems. Most states require sellers to complete this form.
A seller's disclosure statement is a form that sellers complete to inform buyers about the condition and history of the property, including known defects, past repairs, insurance claims, and environmental issues.
Flood zone disclosure requires informing buyers whether a property is located in a designated flood zone as mapped by FEMA. Properties in high-risk flood zones may require mandatory flood insurance.
Megan's Law requires states to make information about registered sex offenders available to the public. Some states require real estate agents to inform buyers about the availability of sex offender registries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Study This in Your State
Protected Classes may have state-specific rules. Choose your state to study Mandated Disclosures with localized content: