Fair Housing, Consumer Protection, and Ethical Practice
DC is broader than federal
Fair housing items test whether you know that the District's law exceeds the federal Fair Housing Act. The federal act protects race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. The DC Human Rights Act adds, among others, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, and place of residence or business, and is enforced by the DC Office of Human Rights. Because source of income is protected, refusing a Housing Choice Voucher applicant is unlawful in the District. Reasonable accommodation (a change in rules or practices) and reasonable modification (a physical change) must be considered for disability.
Prohibited practices and advertising
Recognize steering, blockbusting, redlining, refusal to show or negotiate, discriminatory advertising, and retaliation against a complainant. Advertising is judged by the words and images used, not by intent - "perfect for a young couple" or "no children" violates the law, as do phrases signaling a preferred religion or national origin.
Consumer protection and ethics
Alongside fair housing runs the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act, which reaches deceptive or unfair trade practices in real estate, permits a private right of action, and can multiply exposure through attorney's fees and penalties. Ethical duties - truthfulness, disclosure of compensation, no misrepresentation in advertising, cooperation with competitors - frequently appear in the same fact pattern.
Rule of thumb: if a statement in an ad, a showing, or a contract term describes a person rather than the property, stop and check it against a protected trait.