Which of the following is NOT a protected class under the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act, which was enacted to ensure equal housing opportunities and prohibit discrimination based on specific characteristics, recognizes several protected classes. These include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability.

Marital status is not included among the protected classes specified by the Fair Housing Act. This means that while individuals cannot be discriminated against based on their race, color, or religion, the Act does not provide protections for people based solely on whether they are married, single, or in a domestic partnership. It's important to note that some state and local laws may offer additional protections that include marital status, but at the federal level under the Fair Housing Act, it is not classified as a protected category.

Thus, identifying marital status as not being a protected class highlights the specific scope of federal regulations aimed at preventing discrimination in housing. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for compliance and fair treatment in housing practices.