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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingMEDIUM

Maria, a licensed salesperson in Worcester, is working with a buyer client who has a Section 8 housing voucher. A landlord tells Maria that he will not accept Section 8 vouchers as a form of payment for rent. Maria is aware that the property is located in a city that has enacted a local ordinance protecting source of income. Under these circumstances, the landlord's refusal is best characterized as:

Correct Answer

D) Unlawful under the applicable local ordinance, even though statewide Chapter 151B protection for source of income is limited in scope.

Source of income protection under Massachusetts law is not uniformly applied statewide under Chapter 151B; however, several Massachusetts cities and municipalities, including Boston, have enacted local ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. When a local ordinance provides such protection, a landlord's refusal to accept Section 8 vouchers in that jurisdiction is unlawful under the local ordinance.

Answer Options
A
Lawful, because the federal Fair Housing Act does not protect Section 8 voucher holders.
B
Unlawful under Chapter 151B statewide, because Section 8 vouchers are explicitly protected throughout Massachusetts.
C
Lawful, because source of income is not a protected class under Massachusetts Chapter 151B statewide.
D
Unlawful under the applicable local ordinance, even though statewide Chapter 151B protection for source of income is limited in scope.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

chapter_151bsource_of_incomesection_8local_ordinanceprotected_classes

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