Fair Housing

Fair Housing: Practice & Fair Housing > Why this matters on the exam: Fair housing questions appear consistently in the "Real Estate Practice and Fair Housing" section (~12% of the exam), and NY's protected classes go significantly beyond the federal baseline — knowing exactly which level of law adds which classes is a high-frequency exam trap. --- ## Overview: The Three Layers of Fair Housing Law Fair housing in New York is built in three stacking layers. Each layer adds protections on top of the one below it. You must know which protected classes belong to which layer. ### Layer 1 — Federal Fair Housing Act (7 Classes) The federal law establishes the national baseline. The seven federally protected classes are: | # | Protected Class | |---|---| | 1 | Race | | 2 | Color | | 3 | Religion | | 4 | National origin | | 5 | Sex | | 6 | Familial status | | 7 | Handicap (disability) | Any conduct that discriminates in the sale, rental, financing, or terms of housing based on these classes is illegal nationwide. --- ### Layer 2 — New York Human Rights Law (Executive Law Article 15) New York State's Human Rights Law adds protected classes beyond the federal seven. For the exam, you must memorize these additions: | NY-Added Class | Note | |---|---| | Creed | Broader than "religion" | | Age (18+) | Does not protect minors | | Sexual orientation | | | Gender identity or expression | | | Marital status | | | Military status | | | Citizenship/immigration status | Added December 2022 | > Exam tip: If a…