Which act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability?

Which act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability?

• A. Equal Credit Opportunity Act
• B. Civil Rights Act of 1883
• C. Americans with Disabilities Act
• D. Fair Housing Act

Answer: (D)

The essential idea is identifying the law that bans housing discrimination based on protected characteristics. The Fair Housing Act does just that: it makes it illegal to refuse to sell or rent, to set different terms, or to advertise housing in a discriminatory way because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. It covers housing transactions and related activities, involving landlords, real estate agents, and lenders, and enforcement is handled by HUD or the Department of Justice. The other options don’t fit because they address different areas: the Equal Credit Opportunity Act deals with discrimination in credit, not housing itself; the Americans with Disabilities Act protects disability rights in employment and public accommodations, not housing transactions; and a Civil Rights Act of 1883 isn’t the applicable housing discrimination law.

The essential idea is identifying the law that bans housing discrimination based on protected characteristics. The Fair Housing Act does just that: it makes it illegal to refuse to sell or rent, to set different terms, or to advertise housing in a discriminatory way because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. It covers housing transactions and related activities, involving landlords, real estate agents, and lenders, and enforcement is handled by HUD or the Department of Justice.

The other options don’t fit because they address different areas: the Equal Credit Opportunity Act deals with discrimination in credit, not housing itself; the Americans with Disabilities Act protects disability rights in employment and public accommodations, not housing transactions; and a Civil Rights Act of 1883 isn’t the applicable housing discrimination law.