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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingHARD

A Montana landlord operates a 10-unit apartment complex in Kalispell. He refuses to rent to applicants over the age of 55, claiming his building qualifies as housing for older persons under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) and therefore he can exclude younger tenants. He then argues that because his building is HOPA-qualified, he can also refuse to rent to applicants under age 55 who are unmarried. Which of the following statements correctly evaluates both of the landlord's claims under applicable law?

Correct Answer

B) The age restriction claim may be valid if HOPA requirements are met, but the marital status restriction remains unlawful under the Montana Human Rights Act

Under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA), housing communities that qualify as '55 and older' or '62 and older' housing may lawfully restrict occupancy based on age without violating the federal Fair Housing Act's familial status protections. If this landlord's complex genuinely meets HOPA's qualification requirements (at least 80% of units occupied by one person 55 or older, published policies, etc.), the age-based restriction may be lawful. However, HOPA does not create any exemption from Montana's prohibition on marital status discrimination under the Montana Human Rights Act (MCA Title 49, Chapter 2). The landlord cannot additionally require that qualifying residents be married. These are two separate legal issues governed by different laws.

Answer Options
A
Both claims are valid: HOPA allows age-based restrictions, and Montana law permits marital status restrictions in HOPA-qualified housing
B
The age restriction claim may be valid if HOPA requirements are met, but the marital status restriction remains unlawful under the Montana Human Rights Act
C
Both claims are invalid: neither age nor marital status restrictions are permitted in any Montana rental housing
D
The marital status restriction is valid under HOPA, but the age restriction is unlawful under the Montana Human Rights Act

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

age_discriminationmarital_statusHOPAsenior_housingmontana_human_rights_actstate_protected_classes

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