Brokerage Business Management, Supervision, and Fair Housing Compliance
Supervision
The broker is the responsible party. Maryland brokers maintain written office policies, supervise affiliated licensees, review advertising, monitor trust accounts, and ensure unlicensed assistants never negotiate, quote terms or advise on property. Team leaders must be licensed and registered, and every licensee works under an identifiable supervising broker.
Fair housing
Federal law protects race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability. Maryland adds marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and source of income, including housing vouchers. Prohibited conduct includes refusing to rent or sell, offering different terms, steering, blockbusting, redlining and discriminatory advertising. Reasonable accommodations must be granted for disability, and modifications are generally at the tenant's expense.
Enforcement
Complaints may go to HUD, the Maryland Civil Rights Commission or MREC. Testing programs generate cases from paired inquiries, and MREC discipline is separate from civil liability.
Worked example
A listing agent tells a voucher holder the owner does not participate in that program. Analysis: refusing a prospective buyer or tenant based on lawful source of income violates Maryland fair housing law, even when framed as the owner's preference. The correct response is to submit the offer and let the owner evaluate it on lawful terms.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming the federal classes are the whole list; overlooking marital status and source of income; letting an unlicensed assistant hold an open house and discuss price; believing a discriminatory owner's instruction shields the agent.