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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingHARD

A Maryland real estate broker receives a complaint from a buyer who alleges that a seller refused to accept his offer because the seller discovered the buyer is gay. The buyer also alleges that the listing agent knew of the seller's motivation and remained silent. Under the Maryland Fair Housing Act, which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the liability of the listing agent?

Correct Answer

A) The listing agent may be liable for participating in discrimination based on sexual orientation by following the seller's discriminatory instructions

Under the Maryland Fair Housing Act (Md. Code Ann., State Gov't § 20-702), sexual orientation is a protected class. An agent who knows that a seller is rejecting an offer based on a protected characteristic and does nothing — or who follows the seller's discriminatory instructions — may be liable for participating in or facilitating the discrimination. Licensees have an affirmative duty not to engage in or assist with discriminatory practices.

Answer Options
A
The listing agent may be liable for participating in discrimination based on sexual orientation by following the seller's discriminatory instructions
B
The listing agent has no liability because the seller, not the agent, made the decision to reject the offer
C
The listing agent is exempt from liability because sexual orientation is only a federal protected class, not a Maryland protected class
D
The listing agent is only liable if the agent personally made statements about the buyer's sexual orientation

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

sexual_orientationagent_liabilitylisting_agentdiscriminatory_instructionsmaryland_fair_housing_act

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