Question 9

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 because of the noise.

This option clearly illustrates a violation of federal fair housing laws, specifically the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on familial status. By refusing to rent to families with children, the owner is engaging in discriminatory practices.

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

This option is generally permissible under the Fair Housing Act as religious organizations can restrict housing to members of their faith. The church's actions do not violate federal laws since they are allowed to prioritize their own congregants for religious housing.

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

This scenario is allowed under the Fair Housing Act, as the law provides exemptions for housing intended for older persons. The age restriction does not constitute a violation, as it is designed to meet the specific needs of seniors.

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 represents a discriminatory practice based on familial status, which is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act. However, it does not rise to the same level of explicit violation as Option D, where the refusal is based on a general policy affecting families with children living in a multi-unit dwelling.

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 because of the noise

This choice exemplifies a clear violation of federal fair housing laws. The refusal to rent to families with children based on an assumption about noise constitutes discrimination against families with minors, directly contravening the protections offered under the Fair Housing Act.

Conclusion

The correct answer is definitively option D, as it clearly violates federal fair housing laws by discriminating against families with children. Options A, B, and C either comply with the law or do not represent as severe a violation. Therefore, option D stands out as the only choice that directly contravenes the principles established to protect against discrimination based on familial status.