Chapter 1
Brokerage Operations and Management
Course: Alaska Real Estate Exam Prep
Subject: National Real Estate Broker Exams Prep
Chapter: Fair Housing Ethics And Risk Management
Fair Housing Compliance
Fair housing compliance is a core legal responsibility in real estate brokerage. Fair housing law governs how brokers, salespersons, property managers, landlords, sellers, lenders, insurers, appraisers, advertisers, and housing providers interact with the public in housing-related transactions. Its purpose is to ensure that access to housing is not restricted, discouraged, denied, manipulated, or burdened because of legally protected characteristics.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
These protected classes apply to many housing-related activities, including sales, rentals, advertising, financing, brokerage services, property management, and certain municipal or institutional practices affecting housing access.
The Legal Foundation of Fair Housing
Fair housing law is based on the principle that housing opportunities must be made available without unlawful discrimination. In real estate brokerage, discrimination is not limited to direct refusal to sell or rent. It also includes unequal service, different terms, selective advertising, steering, blockbusting, discriminatory statements, improper screening, and practices that make housing unavailable to protected groups.