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Practice Of Real EstateFair_housingHARD

A Wisconsin property owner rents out a room in her owner-occupied single-family home and posts an advertisement stating she prefers a female roommate. A male applicant who was denied files a fair housing complaint. Under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 106, which of the following best describes the legal situation?

Correct Answer

B) The owner will likely be exempt under the federal Fair Housing Act's Mrs. Murphy exemption, which may also apply under Wisconsin Chapter 106 for owner-occupied dwellings with limited units.

The federal Fair Housing Act contains a 'Mrs. Murphy' exemption for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, allowing the owner to apply personal preferences in selecting tenants — but this exemption does not apply if a real estate broker is used or if discriminatory advertising is used. Wisconsin Chapter 106 contains a similar exemption for owner-occupied dwellings. However, the advertisement stating a gender preference may itself be a violation even if the underlying rental decision is exempt, as discriminatory advertising is generally not protected even under the Mrs. Murphy exemption. The situation involves nuanced analysis of both the exemption and the advertising restriction.

Answer Options
A
The owner will likely face liability because sex is a protected class under both federal and Wisconsin fair housing law.
B
The owner will likely be exempt under the federal Fair Housing Act's Mrs. Murphy exemption, which may also apply under Wisconsin Chapter 106 for owner-occupied dwellings with limited units.
C
The owner will likely prevail because Wisconsin Chapter 106 does not apply to any owner-occupied properties.
D
The owner will likely face liability because Wisconsin Chapter 106 has no exemptions for owner-occupied properties of any size.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingmrs_murphy_exemptionowner_occupiedprotected_classeswisconsin_chapter_106sex_discriminationexpert_trapadvertising

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