Question 86

An owner of a duplex who lives in one of the two units and refuses to rent the other unit to anyone with kids under the age of 12 is violating federal fair housing laws.

This scenario represents a violation of federal fair housing laws, specifically the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on familial status. Refusing to rent to individuals with children under 12 constitutes discriminatory practices against families.

A) A church that rents out the parsonage only to members of the church

While this situation may raise ethical concerns about inclusivity, it does not violate federal fair housing laws. Religious organizations are permitted to limit rentals to members of their congregation under certain circumstances, as long as they do not engage in discriminatory practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.

B) A home builder who is developing a new retirement community that restricts occupancy to persons aged 62 and older

This option is compliant with federal fair housing laws. The Housing for Older Persons Act allows for age-restricted communities, and as long as such communities meet specific criteria, they are exempt from certain fair housing provisions related to familial status.

C) An owner of a duplex who lives in one of the two units and refuses to rent the other unit to anyone with kids under the age of 12

This option exemplifies a clear violation of federal fair housing laws. Discriminating against potential tenants based on their familial status, particularly when it involves refusing to rent to families with children under 12, directly contravenes the Fair Housing Act.

D) An owner of an 8-unit apartment building who lives in one of the ground floor units and refuses to rent upstairs units to families with children

This scenario is also a violation of federal fair housing laws. Similar to option C, the refusal to rent to families with children constitutes discrimination based on familial status, which is prohibited under the Fair Housing Act.

Conclusion

The correct answer is C, as it directly violates the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against families with children. Options A and B are compliant with federal laws due to the allowances for religious organizations and age-restricted communities, respectively. Options C and D, however, both demonstrate clear violations, but option C specifically highlights the refusal to rent based on familial status, making it the most straightforward example of discrimination.