What does the Fair Housing Act prohibit?

The Fair Housing Act is a significant piece of legislation designed to prevent discrimination in housing-related activities. It specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. This means that advertising practices that express preferences or limitations based on these protected classes are unlawful. Therefore, advertising preferences based on protected classes directly violates the Fair Housing Act.

This legislation aims to ensure that individuals have equal opportunities in housing, which encompasses renting, buying, and advertising properties. This focus on advertising is crucial because it can influence the availability and accessibility of housing to various demographic groups.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the prohibitive measures outlined by the Fair Housing Act. The Act does not specifically address discrimination based on credit history, nor does it regulate the forms of lease agreements or sales agreements for commercial properties in the same manner. These areas might be subject to different regulations or laws but are not the main focus of the Fair Housing Act’s intent to combat discrimination in housing based on certain protected characteristics.