Fair Housing on the Rhode Island Real Estate Exam

Fair housing appears on every Rhode Island exam. Rhode Island has expansive state-level protections.

Federal Fair Housing Act: 7 Protected Classes Race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status.

Rhode Island Fair Housing Act Additions RIGL Chapter 34-37 adds: - **Marital status** - **Sexual orientation** - **Gender identity or expression** - **Domestic violence victim status** - **Housing status** (protection against discrimination based on homeless status) - **Ancestry** - **Mental illness** (as part of disability protection)

Rhode Island has some of the broadest housing protections in New England.

Prohibited Practices Steering, blockbusting, redlining, discriminatory advertising — all prohibited.

DBR Enforcement The DBR can discipline licensees for fair housing violations. License suspension or revocation is possible for serious violations, separate from HUD enforcement.

Common Exam Question **Q**: A Rhode Island landlord refuses to rent to a domestic violence survivor because "it brings trouble." Under Rhode Island law: **A**: This is a Fair Housing violation — domestic violence victim status is a protected class in Rhode Island.

[Practice Rhode Island fair housing at CARealestate.com/states/rhode-island](https://carealestate.com/states/rhode-island)