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Fair housingSubject 9 of 19

Familial status

Familial status is a protected class under federal and New York law covering households with a child under 18, pregnant persons and people gaining custody of a child.

Direct answer

What does familial status mean?

Familial status is a protected class under federal and New York law covering households with a child under 18, pregnant persons and people gaining custody of a child.

Exam cue: Watch for ads, occupancy rules or steering that exclude families with children. Neutral, lawful occupancy limits are allowed, and qualifying senior housing has a narrow exemption.

What does it look like in a question?

Example

An ad saying adults only can signal prohibited familial-status discrimination unless a lawful exemption applies.

Common exam trap

What should you not confuse it with?

Familial status does not simply mean marital status.

Related fair housing terms

Assistance animalAn assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance or performs tasks, or provides disability-related emotional support under applicable housing rules.BlockbustingBlockbusting is inducing or attempting to induce a sale or rental by suggesting that protected-class entry or change will cause harmful neighborhood effects.Disparate treatmentDisparate treatment is treating a person differently from others because of a protected characteristic.Fair housing testingFair housing testing is a method of comparing housing experiences using people with matched profiles to identify possible discrimination.Implicit biasImplicit bias is an attitude or association that affects a person's judgment without the person being aware of it.Lawful source of incomeLawful source of income is a New York protected characteristic covering lawful income used to pay for housing, including specified public and private sources.
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